The acute effect of foam rolling on range of motion, flexibility, agility, and vertical jump height

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the acute effects of foam rolling (FR) on range of motion, flexibility, agility, and vertical jump height. Nineteen subjects (8 male, 11 female) completed a 15-minute FR session and a control condition on two separate days. Pre and post-testing evaluation included ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), knee flexion range of motion, sit-and-reach, agility t-test, and vertical jump height. There were no statistically significant differences for any of the variables (p<.05). Consequent to the FR session, subjects in the present study felt as though FR increased ROM in the ankle and knee as well as increased hamstring flexibility. Thus, it was concluded that FR may provide some psychological benefit but appears to have no physiological benefit as a warm-up modality.