A Comparative Study on Effectiveness of Swedish Massage and Foam Roller Massage on Hamstring Flexibility and Lower Limb Power in Female Athletes: A Single-blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: The available research is inadequate to determine the relative impact of Swedish massage and foam roller massage on hamstring flexibility and explosive power. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of Swedish massage and foam roller massage on hamstring flexibility and explosive power in female athletes. Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed on a sample of 30 female athletes, who were divided into two groups of similar size. The first group had a foam roller massage, while the second group received a Swedish massage for 5 min on each leg on the posterior aspect. The outcome measurements of passive knee extension test (PKET), vertical jump height, and vertical jump power were collected both before and after the intervention. Results: The result of the study reported that both groups showed a significant improvement in PKET, vertical jump test, and vertical jump power. However, only PKET in the left leg of foam roller massage group did not show any significant improvement. This study found a significant difference in between-group comparison in all outcome variables. Hamstring flexibility (right and left), vertical jump height, and power were increased significantly in both the groups. However, in comparison with Swedish massage (20%, 13%, 19%, and 15%), the gain in flexibility and explosive power was less in the foam roller group (10%, 7%, 8%, and 4%). Conclusion: Regarding flexibility, the impacts of Swedish massage are superior from self-foam roller massage. Additional research is required to investigate the impact of these methods on various performance indicators. CTRI Number: CTRI/2019/10/021528