Are Foam Rolling Or Dynamic Stretch Effective In Improving Hip Rotation Range Of Motion?

PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare the effects of foam rolling and dynamic stretching interventions on hip rotation range of motion (ROM) over time (up to 30 minutes after interventions). METHODS: The study recruited nine researchers (29.8 ± 1.8 yrs) specializing in the domains of physical fitness, each subject performed a 12-minutes dynamic stretching protocol (12DS), a 12-minutes foam-rolling protocol (12FR, targeting the globe muscles of the lower extremities, each muscle rolls for 1 minute), and an 8-minutes foam roller and fascia ball rolling (8FR, targeting the local muscles around the hip, each muscle rolls for 1 minute) protocol in a Latin-square design in randomized order, and the subject's active hip mobility in internal and external rotation were measured before and immediately after, and 30 minutes after the intervention. The 3x3 repeated measures ANOVA was used to test the effect of the different independent variables on the dependent variable, and the Bonferroni correction method was selected for post hoc multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Although the main effects of the intervention methods on various indicators, including left hip internal ( p = 0.893)/ external ( p = 0.977) rotation ROM, right hip internal ( p = 0.659)/ external ( p = 0.884) rotation ROM, and left ( p = 0.907)/ right ( p = 0.515) hip total ROM were not statistically significant, indicating no substantial differences among the three intervention methods. A significant difference was observed in the main effect of measure time for the left hip total ROM ( p = 0.025). Similarly, a difference was noted in the right hip total ROM ( p = 0.049) in the interaction effect of measure time and intervention methods. Additionally, significant changes are predominantly observed in the 12FR group, including the pre-test to immediate after intervention for left ( 58.78 ± 6.24 to 63.44 ± 8.60 °, p = 0.009) and right ( 60.11 ± 6.64 to 60.11 ± 6.64 °, p = 0.005) hip total ROM, and total left hip ROM was markedly diminished 30 minutes following the 12FR intervention ( 63.44 ± 8.60 to 59.67 ± 6.50 °, p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: None of the three interventions exhibited a capacity to improve hip rotational mobility for a period exceeding 30 minutes.The 12FR protocol proved more efficacious than the 12DS protocol and the 8FR protocol in enhancing hip rotational mobility. Supported by: Special Program for Key Project Scientific Research and Technological Services in Beijing, Project Number: 2023BTP009