Aquatic myofascial release applied after high intensity exercise increases flexibility and decreases pain.

Objectives: To investigate aquatic myofascial release (AMR) effects on flexibility and delayed onset muscle soreness, after high intensity exercises.

Study Design: 15 participants, control (CON) and intervention (INT), 3 moments, pre (Pre), after (Post) and 50 min after (Post 50/Post AMR). 6 exercises, 5 sets, 15 reps at 85% of 1 maximum repetition, followed, or not, by 50 min of AMR.

Variables: Heart rate, lactate, rate of perceived exertion, pain and flexibility.

Results: Pain perception decreased in all moments (CON4.47 ± 2.36; INT1.13 ± 1.46, p = 0.0002). Flexibility only increased for the fingertip to floor test in both phases in the Post50/Post AMR compared to Post (CON14.33 ± 9.19Pre, 15.07 ± 9.37Post (p = 0.7) and 12.8 ± 4.69Post50 (p = 0.4); INT14.53 ± 9.06Pre, 13.87 ± 9.88Post (p = 0.2) and 11.03 ± 8.96Post AMR (p = 0.001)). The Well's bench improved only for the Post AMR compared to Pre in the INT phase (INT24.79 ± 9.91Pre; 27.67 ± 9.46Post AMR p = 0.0000023).

Conclusion: We concluded that AMR is effective to reduce pain perception and to improve flexibility of the studied population submitted to a high intense exercise session.