Effect of Combined Active Recovery and Foam Rolling on Blood Lactate, Heart Rate, and Reducing Muscle Pain After Simulated Competition

Overview

This study investigates the effects of combining Active Recovery (AR) and Foam Rolling (FR) on blood lactate, heart rate, and muscle soreness in competitive 400-meter sprint athletes. Twenty healthy athletes will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Experimental group: Active Recovery + Foam Rolling Control group: Active Recovery only All participants will perform a simulated 400-meter sprint. Following the sprint, both groups perform 5 minutes of light jogging (Active Recovery). Subsequently, participants in the experimental group will perform 10 minutes of foam rolling on the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles. Measurements include: Blood lactate: pre- and post-recovery Heart rate: baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery Muscle soreness (VAS 0-10): quadriceps, hamstring, gastrocnemius at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise The study aims to determine whether adding foam rolling to active recovery improves post-exercise physiological and perceptual recovery markers. Participants will not be informed of their group assignment to reduce bias; only the investigators will know. All procedures will take place at the Athletics Track, Surabaya State University, Indonesia. Ethical approval has been obtained from Komite Etik Penelitian Kesehatan STIKES Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta (Ethical Approval No: 009/KEPK/II/2026).

Background: Recovery strategies are crucial in sprinting to restore physiological homeostasis, reduce muscle fatigue, and prevent injury. Active recovery (AR) through light jogging has been shown to facilitate lactate clearance and maintain cardiovascular stability. Foam rolling (FR) has recently gained popularity as a self-myofascial release technique, potentially enhancing recovery by improving blood flow, reducing muscle stiffness, and decreasing perceived soreness. However, evidence in competitive 400-meter sprint athletes remains limited. Study Design: This study is a randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms. Twenty competitive 400-meter sprint athletes will be recruited and randomized into: Experimental group: AR + FR Control group: AR only Randomization will occur prior to the study day. Participants will remain blinded to their group allocation, ensuring unbiased outcome assessment. On the study day, participants perform a 400-meter sprint. Afterward, both groups perform 5 minutes of light jogging (AR). Then, participants in the experimental group continue with 10 minutes of foam rolling on key lower limb muscles (quadriceps, hamstring, gastrocnemius). Outcome Measures: Primary Outcomes: Blood lactate (mmol/L), pre- and post-recovery Heart rate (bpm), baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery Secondary Outcomes: Muscle soreness (VAS 0-10), assessed in quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours Procedures: Lactate measured via finger-prick using a lactate analyzer Heart rate recorded using Polar H-10 chest strap monitor Muscle soreness assessed using standardized VAS Study Location: All procedures will take place at Athletics Track, Surabaya State University, Indonesia. Ethical Considerations: This study has received ethical approval from Komite Etik Penelitian Kesehatan STIKES Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta (009/KEPK/II/2026). Participants will provide written informed consent prior to enrollment. Significance: This study will provide evidence on whether adding foam rolling to active recovery enhances physiological and perceptual recovery markers in sprint athletes, potentially informing best practices in sprint training and competition recovery protocols.