Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35616852›Full record

SynthesisSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2022

Foam Rolling Training Effects on Range of Motion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Andreas Konrad, Masatoshi Nakamura, Markus Tilp, Olyvia Donti, David G Behm

Registry-linked trialOpen access · hybridAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07414914 (The Effect of the Addition of Myofascial Release to Exercise Program on Foot Function, Physical Performance, and Plantar Fascia Thickness in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes), which is not on this map. Cited by 43 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
11.6field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT07414914 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of the Addition of Myofascial Release to Exercise Program on Foot Function, Physical Performance, and Plantar Fascia Thickness in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorIzmir Katip Celebi UniversityRan2025 to 2026Enrolled40ConditionsType 2 DiabetesArmsExercise Program, Self-Myofascial Release
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

43 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 69 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. The effects of chronic stretch training on musculoskeletal pain.European journal of applied physiology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.

Andreas KonradInstitute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, Graz University, Mozartgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria. andreas.konrad@uni-graz.at.ORCID 0000-0002-5588-1824
Masatoshi NakamuraInstitute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-8184-1121
Markus TilpInstitute of Human Movement Science, Sport and Health, Graz University, Mozartgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-6644-2712
Olyvia DontiSports Performance Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-0476-4633
David G BehmSchool of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-9406-6056
Memorial University of Newfoundland · CANational and Kapodistrian University of Athens · GRNiigata University of Health and Welfare · JPUniversity of Graz · AT

Funding

Austrian Science Fund FWF J 4484
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA single foam-rolling exercise can acutely increase the range of motion (ROM) of a joint. However, to date the adaptational effects of foam-rolling training over several weeks on joint ROM are not well understood.

objectiveThe purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of foam-rolling training interventions on joint ROM in healthy participants.

methodsResults were assessed from 11 studies (either controlled trials [CT] or randomized controlled trials [RCTs]) and 46 effect sizes by applying a random-effect meta-analysis. Moreover, by applying a mixed-effect model, we performed subgroup analyses, which included comparisons of the intervention duration (≤ 4 weeks vs > 4 weeks), comparisons between muscles tested (e.g., hamstrings vs quadriceps vs triceps surae), and study designs (RCT vs CT).

resultsOur main analysis of 290 participants with a mean age of 23.9 (± 6.3 years) indicated a moderate effect of foam-rolling training on ROM increases in the experimental compared to the control group (ES = 0.823; Z = 3.237; 95% CI 0.325-1.322; p = 0.001; I

conclusionLonger duration interventions (> 4 weeks) are needed to induce ROM gains while there is evidence that responses are muscle or joint specific. Future research should examine possible mechanisms underpinning ROM increases following different foam-rolling protocols, to allow for informed recommendations in healthy and clinical populations.

Indexed as

Hamstring MusclesAdultHumansMuscle, SkeletalQuadriceps MuscleRange of Motion, ArticularYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID35616852
PMCPMC9474417
OpenAlexW4281560999

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.