Effect of Combined Foam Rolling and Static Passive Stretching Exercises Applied to Plantar Flexors on Range of Motion and Vertical Jump Performance

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of static passive stretching and foam rolling applied to the plantar flexors in combination and in different order on countermovement jump performance and dorsiflexion range of motion. Twelve male and six female volunteers (22.16±6.61 years, 1.75±9.86 height, 73.92±17.06 weight) performing recreational resistance training participated in the study. The study consisted of 3 sessions at non-consecutive 48-hour intervals. On the first day of the study, the participants performed bicycle ergometry for 5 minutes. Then the range of motion of the dorsi flexion was measured with a goniometer and finally the vertical jump height was determined. On the second day, after 5 minutes of bicycle ergometry, the participants performed 45 seconds of foam rolling followed by 45 seconds of static passive stretching, and their vertical jump heights and dorsi flexion angles were measured again. On the third day, after 5 minutes of bicycle ergometry, the participants performed 45 seconds of static passive stretching followed by 45 seconds of foam rolling, and their vertical jump heights and dorsiflexion angles were measured again, and the study was terminated. All statistical analyses were performed using statistical software (SPSS version 25.0, IBM, Chicago, IL). The alpha level was set at <0.05. The Shapiro-Wilk test showed that the data were normally distributed. A statistically significant difference was found by protocol × range of motion analysis. The subsequent Bofferoni correction, in parallel with our hypotheses, revealed that the range of motion increased significantly after the static + foam rolling application compared to the control group, whereas no significant change was found after the foam rolling + static application. However, contrary to our hypotheses, no statistically significant difference was found as a result of the applied protocol × countermovement jump height analysis. Our results showed that static passive stretching followed by foam rolling should be used to increase the range of motion of the joint without causing a decrease in the height of the countermovement jump. On the other hand, it was observed that static stretching followed by foam rolling did not result in a positive change in joint range of motion, although it did not affect the height of the countermovement jump.