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„Foam rolling“ und Wirbelsäulenbeweglichkeit – eine randomisierte kontrollierte Pilotstudie

Foam rolling and spinal flexibility—A randomized controlled pilot study

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Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Trotz eingeschränkter Evidenz und mangelnder Kenntnis der zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen wird „foam rolling“ (FR) im fitness- und gesundheitsorientierten Sport praktiziert. Für die Extremitätengelenke werden Verbesserungen der Beweglichkeit beschrieben, für die Wirbelsäule liegen jedoch kaum Befunde vor.

Zielsetzung

In dieser Pilotstudie sollte für asymptomatische Probandinnen untersucht werden, ob FR die Wirbelsäulenbeweglichkeit in der Flexion und axialen Rotation verbessern kann.

Methodik

In einem randomisiert-kontrollierten Messwiederholungsdesign (Experimental- und Wartekontrollbedingung im Abstand von 1 Woche) wurde die Wirbelsäulenbeweglichkeit in der maximalen Vorbeugung („sit and reach test“) und in der maximalen axialen Rotation (Segmente L1 und T4, dynamische Videorasterstereographie) vor und nach FR (2 Serien à 3 min, 60 s Pause, 10 Rollphasen pro min, Druck ca. zwei Drittel des Körpergewichts) bei 19 beschwerdefreien, sportlich aktiven Frauen (Alter 26,1 ± 3,6 Jahre, Body-Mass-Index 22,3 ± 2,6 kg/m2) ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

Für die Vorbeugung wurde eine Verbesserung um etwa 2 cm beobachtet (p < 0,001), die jedoch unabhängig vom FR war (p = 0,910). Zeiteffekte der axialen Rotationsamplituden (L1, T4) waren nicht signifikant (p = 0,290–0,941). Obwohl Zuwächse (etwa 2°) nur nach FR beobachtet wurden, waren FR-Interaktionseffekte nicht signifikant (p = 0,261–0,368).

Schlussfolgerung

Unmittelbare Verbesserungen der Wirbelsäulenbeweglichkeit nach einmaligem FR konnten für sportlich aktive, jüngere Personen nicht gezeigt werden. Bei Beachtung methodischer Adaptationen hat sich die dynamische Videorasterstereographie jedoch als nützlich erwiesen, um in zukünftigen Studien auch bei funktionseingeschränkten Patienten die axiale Rotationsbeweglichkeit zu quantifizieren.

Abstract

Background

Despite limited evidence and little knowledge about underlying mechanisms or even potential risks, foam rolling (FR) has become a widely used tool for fitness and health purposes. Improvements in lower limb flexibility have been described, but there is a paucity of information for the spine.

Purpose

This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of FR on trunk and spinal flexion and axial rotation in healthy subjects.

Methods

Spinal flexibility at maximal trunk flexion (sit and reach test) and maximal vertebral axial rotation (segments L1 and T4, dynamic video rasterstereography) was assessed in a randomized controlled repeated measures design (experimental and waiting control conditions separated by 1 week) before and after FR or a respective waiting time (control) in a sample of 19 active healthy females (age 26.1 ± 3.6 years, body mass index 22.3 ± 2.6 kg/m2). FR consisted of 2 repetitions (each 3 min with 60 s rest) for the paraspinal and lateral back muscles (10 roll cyles/min, average pressure approximately two thirds of body weight).

Results

We found a significant 2‑cm increase in the sit and reach test results (p < 0.001), which was, however, independent of the FR treatment (p = 0.910). Vertebral rotation (L1, T4) did not change significantly (p = 0.290–0.941). Although we observed 2‑degree increases on average for the FR condition only, the time × treatment interactions did not indicate an FR effect (p = 0.261–0.368).

Conclusion

Commonly accepted evidence for increases in lower limb flexibility after FR cannot be confirmed for spinal mobility after a single treatment in healthy active young women. The technical approach using dynamic rasterstereography to quantify axial spinal rotation appears to be promising for future FR investigations targeting patients with back complaints, provided methodical adaptations are taken into account.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Bewegungswissenschaft, Sport- und Bewegungsmedizin, Fakultät für Psychologie und Bewegungswissenschaft, Universität Hamburg, Turmweg 2, 20148, Hamburg, Deutschland

    Jan Schröder & Melanie Pöpel

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Correspondence to Jan Schröder.

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Interessenkonflikt

J. Schröder und M. Pöpel geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Die Datenerhebungen am Menschen wurden gemäß der Grundsätze der Erklärung von Helsinki von 1975 in ihrer aktuellen Version durchgeführt. Es liegt ein Votum der lokalen Ethikkommission vor (AZ 66 2016). Von allen beteiligten Probanden liegt eine Einverständniserklärung vor.

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Schröder, J., Pöpel, M. „Foam rolling“ und Wirbelsäulenbeweglichkeit – eine randomisierte kontrollierte Pilotstudie. Manuelle Medizin 56, 300–306 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00337-018-0426-1

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