Healthy Subjects (HS)NCT06877832
Effects of Foam Rolling, Foam Rolling with Dynamic Movement, and Static Stretching on Plantar Flexor Range of Motion and Tissue Properties in Healthy Participants
A study testing Static Stretching (SS), Foam Rolling (FR) and Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM) in people with Healthy Subjects (HS), run by Ewan Thomas at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
Each voluntary participant will be invited and tested at the Functional Assessment Laboratory. After reading and completing the informed consent document regarding our research and data processing, participants will be invited for four separate sessions at the laboratory. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Subjects (HS)
- What is being tested?
- Static Stretching (SS), Foam Rolling (FR) and Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2023to 30 Nov 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy participants, adult participants, active, agreeing to sign the consent form
Who cannot join
- Participants with neuromuscular, orthopedic and gynecological disease (or taking oral contraceptives) or those having injuries of the lower extremities were excluded from the investigation. Female participants were allowed to participate to the experiments only during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle and always before ovulation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Determinants of Acute Effects of Stretching Vs. Foam Rolling: Morphological, Sensory and Fluid Responses
Each voluntary participant will be invited and tested at the Functional Assessment Laboratory. After reading and completing the informed consent document regarding our research and data processing, participants will be invited for four separate sessions at the laboratory. During the first session, essential personal information (name, surname, sex, age) will be recorded. Immediately after measuring the participant's height using a stadiometer and weight using a scale, several tests will be conducted to assess pain thresholds and tissue density using specific dynamometers, joint mobility levels of the participants (Passive Muscle Mobility Test and a test using the accelerometer), and a Bioimpedance Analysis to assess body fluids. After a 15-minute rest period, the tests will be repeated to obtain an initial baseline control assessment. The subsequent sessions will involve the same evaluations, which will be conducted before, immediately after, and 15 minutes after the proposed intervention. The proposed interventions will be randomized across the sessions and will alternatively include: a brief session of static stretching on the leg muscles (4 sets of 30 seconds with 15 seconds of rest between sets), a session of static foam rolling (4 sets of 30 seconds with 15 seconds of rest between sets) on the same muscle groups, where pressure is applied to the muscle through the participant's body weight on a foam roller while performing muscle contractions, or dynamic foam rolling, during which the muscle will be rolled over the foam roller.
- Conditions
- Healthy Subjects (HS)
- Being tested
- Static Stretching (SS), Foam Rolling (FR), Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM)
- Keywords
- stiffness, jump, pain sensitivity, EIM, L-BIA
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Static Stretching (SS)Other
For the SS, participants will be instructed to stand and place their dominant foot on a wedge with a 35° incline, stretching the plantar flexor muscles.
Foam Rolling (FR)Other
For the FR, participants will be instructed to position the muscle belly of the PF on the roller. Thirty rolls (15 proximal and 15 distal) will be performed on the muscle belly while maintaining compression on the muscle.
Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM)Other
The FR-DM will involve positioning the muscle belly of the PF on the roller and, without moving the roller, performing 15 plantar flexions and 15 dorsiflexions of the ankle for a period of 30 seconds while compressing the dominant leg with the contralateral leg.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Static Stretching (SS) | Experimental | For the SS, participants will be instructed to stand and place their dominant foot on a wedge with a 35° incline. They will stretch the plantar flexor muscles for 30 seconds, performing 4 repetitions. Receives: Other: Static Stretching (SS) |
| Foam Rolling (FR) | Experimental | For the FR, participants will be instructed to position the muscle belly of the PF on the roller. Thirty rolls (15 proximal and 15 distal) for a duration of 30 seconds will be considered one set. Receives: Other: Foam Rolling (FR) |
| Foam Rolling with Dynamic Movement (FR-DM) | Experimental | The FR-DM will involve positioning the muscle belly of the PF on the roller and, without moving the roller, performing 15 plantar flexions and 15 dorsiflexions of the ankle for a period of 30 seconds while compressing the dominant leg with the contralateral leg. Receives: Other: Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM) |
| Control Group (CG) | No intervention | The CG will only perform the assessment tests, remaining seated for 4 minutes between the pre-test and post-test. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Plantar Flexors ROM
Each participant was placed prone on a medical bed with both feet hanging out of the bed. Inelastic straps were used to fix the pelvis and the contralateral leg of the tested participant. A flat rigid surface was fixed on the sole of the foot. A two arm electronic goniometer (Digital Angle Ruler, resolution0.05°, accuracy±0.2°, repeatability0.05°) was then placed with one arm parallel to the flat surface positioned on the foot sole and the other arm following the diaphysis of the fibula. Starting position was set with the foot and the leg forming a 90°angle. The investigator passively pushed the foot into a dorsiflexion motion to the limit of available ROM, or the maximum tolerable pain for each participant.
Measured: 5 minutes
Pain Pressure Thresholds
PPT was assessed through a portable algometer(FPX25 Pain Tester, Wagner Instruments,CT,USA). The participant's measurement position and posture were similar to TH. The algometer was positioned perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibers. The investigator pushed the metal rod of the algometer at a pressure of 1kg per second over the muscle belly of the participant. The participant was instructed to say "stop" when pain, rather than just pressure, was experienced.
Measured: 5 minutes
Localised Bioimpedance Analysis (L-BIA)
L-BIA was performed using a single frequency phase-sensitive device(BIA-101 Anniversary Sport Edition, Akern Systems, Firenze-Italy) at 50kHz and 400μA to measure PhA and vector length. Two pairs of electrodes (source(I) and detector(V) electrodes) were used. One pair was positioned on the upper part of the leg, with the lateral part of the I positioned on the popliteal crease(Lee et al., 2023) and the V, positioned caudally, parallel to I, 5cm apart. The other pair was positioned on the lower part of the leg with the lateral part of the I positioned above the tibial malleolus and the V, in a cranial direction parallel to I, 5cm apart. Prior to each test, the BIA measurements of the analyzer were validated using a precision circuit with acceptance for resistance(R) measurements of 383ohm(Ω) and reactance(Xc) values of 45Ω.
Measured: 5 minutes
Drop Jump Height (DJ)
A unilateral DJ was assessed through an Optojump™ system(Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) connected to a personal computer with dedicated software(OptojumpTM Next software). The system consists of two optical bars, a receiver and a transmitter, positioned 1m apart. The bars identify ground contact time(with a precision of 1ms) and then convert non-contact time into cm. Based on recommendations on optimal jump height(20 to 60cm), all jumps were performed from a box with a height of 40cm. Participants had to stand upright on the box with their hands positioned on their hips. At the "go" of the investigator, the participants had to jump forward from the box into the opto-jump system avoiding stepping down from the box or hopping off of the box. Once the participant reached the ground with their dominant limb, without flexing the knee, had to jump as high as possible. A 30s rest was given between each trial.
Measured: 5 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Mar 2025
- Study start30 Oct 2023
- Primary completion30 May 2024
- Study completion30 Nov 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy Subjects (HS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ewan Thomas
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ewan Thomas, University of Palermo
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06877832
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 170/2023
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 10 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 14 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Thomas E, Scardina A, Pinto G, Serafini S, Nakamura M, Konrad A, Campa F, Bellafiore M, Bianco A. Determinants of acute effects of stretching vs. foam rolling: Morphological, sensory and fluid responses. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025 Sep;43:130-136. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.04.026. Epub 2025 Apr 16.
PubMed 40483113
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Determinants of Acute Effects of Stretching Vs. Foam Rolling: Morphological, Sensory and Fluid Responses
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06877832
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 170/2023
- Conditions
- Healthy Subjects (HS)
- Keywords
- stiffness, jump, pain sensitivity, EIM, L-BIA
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ewan ThomasUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 May 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Each voluntary participant will be invited and tested at the Functional Assessment Laboratory. After reading and completing the informed consent document regarding our research and data processing, participants will be invited for four separate sessions at the laboratory. During the first session, essential personal information (name, surname, sex, age) will be recorded. Immediately after measuring the participant's height using a stadiometer and weight using a scale, several tests will be conducted to assess pain thresholds and tissue density using specific dynamometers, joint mobility levels of the participants (Passive Muscle Mobility Test and a test using the accelerometer), and a Bioimpedance Analysis to assess body fluids. After a 15-minute rest period, the tests will be repeated to obtain an initial baseline control assessment. The subsequent sessions will involve the same evaluations, which will be conducted before, immediately after, and 15 minutes after the proposed intervention. The proposed interventions will be randomized across the sessions and will alternatively include: a brief session of static stretching on the leg muscles (4 sets of 30 seconds with 15 seconds of rest between sets), a session of static foam rolling (4 sets of 30 seconds with 15 seconds of rest between sets) on the same muscle groups, where pressure is applied to the muscle through the participant's body weight on a foam roller while performing muscle contractions, or dynamic foam rolling, during which the muscle will be rolled over the foam roller.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Static Stretching (SS) | Experimental | Other: Static Stretching (SS)For the SS, participants will be instructed to stand and place their dominant foot on a wedge with a 35° incline. They will stretch the plantar flexor muscles for 30 seconds, performing 4 repetitions. |
| Foam Rolling (FR) | Experimental | Other: Foam Rolling (FR)For the FR, participants will be instructed to position the muscle belly of the PF on the roller. Thirty rolls (15 proximal and 15 distal) for a duration of 30 seconds will be considered one set. |
| Foam Rolling with Dynamic Movement (FR-DM) | Experimental | Other: Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM)The FR-DM will involve positioning the muscle belly of the PF on the roller and, without moving the roller, performing 15 plantar flexions and 15 dorsiflexions of the ankle for a period of 30 seconds while compressing the dominant leg with the contralateral leg. |
| Control Group (CG) | No intervention | –The CG will only perform the assessment tests, remaining seated for 4 minutes between the pre-test and post-test. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Healthy participants, adult participants, active, agreeing to sign the consent form
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Participants with neuromuscular, orthopedic and gynecological disease (or taking oral contraceptives) or those having injuries of the lower extremities were excluded from the investigation. Female participants were allowed to participate to the experiments only during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle and always before ovulation
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Static Stretching (SS)For the SS, participants will be instructed to stand and place their dominant foot on a wedge with a 35° incline, stretching the plantar flexor muscles. | Other | Static Stretching (SS) |
| Foam Rolling (FR)For the FR, participants will be instructed to position the muscle belly of the PF on the roller. Thirty rolls (15 proximal and 15 distal) will be performed on the muscle belly while maintaining compression on the muscle. | Other | Foam Rolling (FR) |
| Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM)The FR-DM will involve positioning the muscle belly of the PF on the roller and, without moving the roller, performing 15 plantar flexions and 15 dorsiflexions of the ankle for a period of 30 seconds while compressing the dominant leg with the contralateral leg. | Other | Foam Rolling with Dynamic Movement (FR-DM) |
Primary outcome
Plantar Flexors ROM
Time frame: 5 minutes
Each participant was placed prone on a medical bed with both feet hanging out of the bed. Inelastic straps were used to fix the pelvis and the contralateral leg of the tested participant. A flat rigid surface was fixed on the sole of the foot. A two arm electronic goniometer (Digital Angle Ruler, resolution0.05°, accuracy±0.2°, repeatability0.05°) was then placed with one arm parallel to the flat surface positioned on the foot sole and the other arm following the diaphysis of the fibula. Starting position was set with the foot and the leg forming a 90°angle. The investigator passively pushed the foot into a dorsiflexion motion to the limit of available ROM, or the maximum tolerable pain for each participant.
Pain Pressure Thresholds
Time frame: 5 minutes
PPT was assessed through a portable algometer(FPX25 Pain Tester, Wagner Instruments,CT,USA). The participant's measurement position and posture were similar to TH. The algometer was positioned perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibers. The investigator pushed the metal rod of the algometer at a pressure of 1kg per second over the muscle belly of the participant. The participant was instructed to say "stop" when pain, rather than just pressure, was experienced.
Localised Bioimpedance Analysis (L-BIA)
Time frame: 5 minutes
L-BIA was performed using a single frequency phase-sensitive device(BIA-101 Anniversary Sport Edition, Akern Systems, Firenze-Italy) at 50kHz and 400μA to measure PhA and vector length. Two pairs of electrodes (source(I) and detector(V) electrodes) were used. One pair was positioned on the upper part of the leg, with the lateral part of the I positioned on the popliteal crease(Lee et al., 2023) and the V, positioned caudally, parallel to I, 5cm apart. The other pair was positioned on the lower part of the leg with the lateral part of the I positioned above the tibial malleolus and the V, in a cranial direction parallel to I, 5cm apart. Prior to each test, the BIA measurements of the analyzer were validated using a precision circuit with acceptance for resistance(R) measurements of 383ohm(Ω) and reactance(Xc) values of 45Ω.
Drop Jump Height (DJ)
Time frame: 5 minutes
A unilateral DJ was assessed through an Optojump™ system(Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) connected to a personal computer with dedicated software(OptojumpTM Next software). The system consists of two optical bars, a receiver and a transmitter, positioned 1m apart. The bars identify ground contact time(with a precision of 1ms) and then convert non-contact time into cm. Based on recommendations on optimal jump height(20 to 60cm), all jumps were performed from a box with a height of 40cm. Participants had to stand upright on the box with their hands positioned on their hips. At the "go" of the investigator, the participants had to jump forward from the box into the opto-jump system avoiding stepping down from the box or hopping off of the box. Once the participant reached the ground with their dominant limb, without flexing the knee, had to jump as high as possible. A 30s rest was given between each trial.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Mar 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40483113Thomas E, Scardina A, Pinto G, Serafini S, Nakamura M, Konrad A, Campa F, Bellafiore M, Bianco A. Determinants of acute effects of stretching vs. foam rolling: Morphological, sensory and fluid responses. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025 Sep;43:130-136. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.04.026. Epub 2025 Apr 16.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Static Stretching (SS), Foam Rolling (FR) and Foam rolling with dynamic movement (FR-DM) in people with Healthy Subjects (HS), run by Ewan Thomas at 1 site in Italy.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Plantar Flexors ROM (time frame: 5 minutes). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06877832, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Mar 2025.