Effects of self-myofascial release: A systematic review.
Summary Background Self-myofascial release (SMFR) is a type of myofascial release performed by the individual themselves rather than by a clinician, typically using a tool. Objectives To review the literature regarding studies exploring acute and chronic clinical effects of SMFR. Methods PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched during February 2015 for studies containing words related to the topic of SMFR. Results Acutely, SMFR seems to increase flexibility and reduce muscle soreness but does not impede athletic performance. It may lead to improved arterial function, improved vascular endothelial function, and increased parasympathetic nervous system activity acutely, which could b…
Acute effects of different foam rolling volumes in the interset rest period on maximum repetition performance
Background - Foam rolling (FR) is a ubiquitous intervention utilised for the purpose of acutely increasing the range of motion without subsequent decreases in performance. Thus, it is commonly used during the periworkout period—that is, prior to, during, or after an athlete's workout.\ud \ud Objective - This study investigated how different FR durations applied to the quadriceps during the interset rest periods affects the numbers of repetitions in the knee extension exercise.\ud \ud Methods - Twenty-five females completed four sets of knee extensions with 10 repetitions of maximum load to concentric failure on four occasions. Between each set, a 4-minute rest interval was implemented in wh…