Context: Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching (PNFS) is suggested to improve the range of motion and flexibility as an active warm-up. Recently, the foam rolling (FR) methods have also emerged as a passive warm-up. However, the combined effects of PNFS and FR are still unclear, and no reports have compared their effects using thermal imaging. This study investigated the acute effects of combining nonvibration FR (NVFR) and vibration FR (VFR) prior to PNFS, in comparison with PNFS alone, on hamstring flexibility and thigh skin temperature.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Participants (n = 60) were randomly assigned to PNFS, NVFR + PNFS, VFR + PNFS, and control group (CG). Active knee-extension (AKE), sit and reach (SR) test, and thermal imaging were evaluated before (pre-int), immediately after (post-int), and 30-minutes after (post30-int) intervention.

Results: All intervention groups had a significant increase at all time periods (P < .001) except the CG in terms of AKE and sit and reach test (P > .05). Combined (NVFR + PNFS/VFR + PNFS) groups had also a significant increase in the post30-int compared with pre-int and post-int values of thigh skin temperature (P < .001). Combined groups, over time, had the best post30-int effect on increasing skin temperature. The study found a significant interaction effect between interventions and time across several measurements (P < .05). Combined groups showed more significant improvements in AKE compared to CG at post-int (P < .05). There is a similar change in AKE, SR test, and skin temperatures between combined groups and PNFS alone at both post-int and post30-int (P < .05).

Conclusions: These findings indicate that using FR, with or without vibration, before PNFS does not provide an additional benefit in improving hamstring flexibility and thigh skin temperatures compared with PNFS alone.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2023-0304DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

thigh skin
16
hamstring flexibility
12
flexibility thigh
12
skin temperature
12
combined groups
12
pnfs
11
foam rolling
8
proprioceptive neuromuscular
8
neuromuscular facilitation
8
facilitation stretching
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!