Do Balance Scores Improve Due To Acute Myo-fascial Release In Collegiate Female Athletes

Myofascial release is a common therapy method used to manipulate connective muscle tissue. The maintenance of body posture relies on mechanoreceptors located in connective tissue, suggesting myofascial release could assist postural control. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect foam-rolling of the whole lower extremity has on balance outcomes in collegiate female athletes. METHODS: Twenty-one collegiate female athletes (Age 20.10 + 0.77 years; Weight 69.10 + 1.26 kg; Height 171.64 + 1.32 cm) participated in this study. Each participant spent approximately 2 minutes foam rolling calf muscles on 1 leg followed by 30 seconds on the quadriceps and hamstring muscles then repeated on opposite leg for a total of 5 minutes. Performance of combined Center of Pressure (CoP) and Limit of Stability (LoS) testing was completed for 8 balance conditions using a Bertec posturography plate both before (pre-) and after (post-) foam rolling. CoP was measured with eyes open stable surface (EOSS), or eyes closed stable surface (ECSS) and perturbed surface both eyes open (EOPS) and eye closed (ECPS). conditions. LoS was evaluated in the Frontal, Posterior, Left, and Right Sagittal Directions. RESULTS: A significant main effect of Condition (p < 0.001) for CoP showed that postural sway for the ECPS Condition was greatest at both pre-foam rolling (p < 0.001) and post-foam rolling (p < 0.001). A significant main effect of Direction (p < 0.001) for LoS showed that LoS was greatest in the Frontal plane Directions compared to Sagittal plane Directions (p < 0.01). A significant effect of Time (p < 0.05) indicated that LoS decreased from pre- to post-foam rolling (mean change = 0.569 cm). No significant Time x Condition (p = 0.095) or Time x Direction (p > 0.7) interaction was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The current study showed that acute effects of self-myofascial release via foam-rolling of the lower extremities may improve postural control.