Foam rolling and stretching do not provide superior acute flexibility and stiffness improvements compared to any other warm-up intervention: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Methodology

Meta-analysis

Population

RCTs comparing foam rolling/stretching vs other warm-up interventions

Intervention

Foam rolling and/or stretching vs other warm-up interventions

Findings

Foam rolling and stretching did not provide superior flexibility improvements compared to other warm-up activities; all warm-up modalities produced similar acute range-of-motion increases, challenging the unique value of foam rolling for flexibility.

Outcome measures

Acute flexibility, muscle stiffness

Limitations

Heterogeneity in control conditions; varying foam rolling protocols; acute effects only.

Original source

DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.01.006 · PMID: 38244921