Introduction: With the increased popularity of foam rolling as a means of recovery, it is important to establish the exact manner in which the practice is useful. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of foam rolling on recovery between two 800 m runs. Methods: Sixteen male middle distance runners (mean±sd; age, 20.5±.5 years; 800 m run time, 145.2±1.8 seconds) participated in the study, using a randomized, crossover design. The subjects completed two 800 m runs on a treadmill, separated by a 30 min rest, during which time a foam rolling protocol or passive rest period was performed. The speed of each run was as fast as possible. Subjects had access to speed controls, but were blinded to the actual speed. Blood lactate concentration and V CO2 were measured prior to and following each run. Stride length, running economy, 800 m run time, and hip extension were measured during each run. Results: V CO2, stride length, running economy, 800 m run time, and hip extension were not significantly different between conditions (p > .05). For blood lactate, no statistical interaction was found between condition and time (p > .05). Discussion Foam rolling between two 800 m runs separated by 30 min performed by trained male runners does not alter recovery and subsequent performance. These findings are in contrast to investigations utilizing longer periods of time between exercise bouts, such as 24, 48, or 72 hr, and measures of strength and power (Macdonald et al., 2014; Pearcey et al., 2015). Our research was limited to the influence of foam rolling on short-term recovery in 800 m runners. The length of the rest interval and the type of athletic event may determine the efficacy of foam rolling towards an athlete`s recovery.
© Copyright 2016 21st Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Vienna, 6. -9. July 2016. Published by University of Vienna. All rights reserved.