ArticleFrontiers in physiology2021
Effects of Self-Myofascial Release Using a Foam Roller on the Stiffness of the Gastrocnemius-Achilles Tendon Complex and Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06827574 (Comparative Effects of Sciatic Nerve Flossing and Active Release Technique on Pain, Flexibility and Functionality in Lower Limbs Among Cyclists With Sciatica), which is not on this map. Cited by 17 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Comparative Effects of Sciatic Nerve Flossing and Active Release Technique on Pain, Flexibility and Functionality in Lower Limbs Among Cyclists With Sciatica
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- Immediate Biomechanical Effects of Manual and Tool-Assisted Myofascial Release on the Erector Spinae Muscle.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Trial
- Can Manual Therapy Alter Muscle Stiffness in Patients With Spinal Accessory Nerve Injury?Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2025Trial
- Feasibility and effectiveness of a foam rolling intervention in pregnant women requiring bed rest for foetal protection: a randomised controlled trial.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Trial
- Effect of osteopathic techniques on human resting muscle tone in healthy subjects using myotonometry: a factorial randomized trial.Scientific reports · 2022Trial
- Acute Structural, Functional, and Biochemical Responses to a High- and Low-Volume Foam Rolling Exercise on the Hamstring Muscles: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Association Between Posterior Ankle Soft Tissue Properties and Deep Squatting Ability After Ankle Fracture Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Article
- Immediate effects of joint- versus soft-tissue-oriented manual therapy on lower-limb function and muscle mechanics in individuals with flexible pes planus: a randomized controlled trial.Irish journal of medical science · 2026Article
- Achilles tendon ultrasound-derived properties of the dominant and non-dominant jumping leg of university basketball athletes: relation with performance, range of motion, and injury.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Can measurement errors explain variance in the relationship between muscle- and tendon stiffness and range of motion?-a blinded reliability and objectivity study.European journal of applied physiology · 2025Article
- Impact of ankle injuries on joint range of motion and muscle viscoelasticity in female amateur volleyball athletes.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2025Article
- The influence of gender and sport on popliteal angle and dorsiflexion in junior high school students.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Effects of Manual Lymphatic Drainage with Mobilization and Myofascial Release on Muscle Activities during Dynamic Balance in Adults with Calf Muscle Shortening.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Inter-Set Foam Rolling of the Latissimus Dorsi Acutely Increases Repetitions in Lat Pull-Down Exercise without Affecting RPE.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2024Article
- Article
- Relationship between the Young's Modulus of the Achilles Tendon and Ankle Dorsiflexion Angle at Maximum Squat Depth in Healthy Young Males.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Article
- Novel Approach for Glycemic Management Incorporating Vibration Stimulation of Skeletal Muscle in Obesity.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Chronic and Residual Effects of a Two-Week Foam Rolling Intervention on Ankle Flexibility and Dynamic Balance.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Increased muscle stiffness can contribute to reduced range of motion (ROM) and impaired function. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion ROM has been associated with increased injury risk in the ankle. Self-myofascial release (SMR) has been widely used in clinical and sports settings, but the effects of SMR on gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of self-myofascial release using a foam roller (FR) on the stiffness of the gastrocnemius-AT complex and ankle dorsiflexion ROM. Fifty healthy, untrained, and non-sedentary participants (age=22.5±2.6years) were randomly divided into an intervention group (FR group) and a control group. The subjects in the intervention group received a single foam roller intervention (three sets of 1min), while the subjects in the control group performed a 5-min sedentary rest. Stiffness of the gastrocnemius-AT complex was evaluated using MyotonPRO and the ankle dorsiflexion ROM was assessed using the weight-bearing lunge test. For the foam roller and control groups, the between-group analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in gastrocnemius stiffness and ankle dorsiflexion ROM after intervention (
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