Roller massage (RM), frequently described within the broader framework of self-myofascial release, has emerged as a widely adopted modality among rehabilitation practitioners and physically active populations. Previous investigations on RM have reported improvements in joint range of motion, small to trivial enhancements in selected performance measures, attenuation of exercise-induced muscle soreness, and reductions in pain perception. While the evidence base supporting mobility, performance, muscle soreness and pain sensitivity adaptations is relatively well developed, considerably less attention has been directed toward the blood pressure responses to RM and the potential underlying mechanisms. Consequently, the physiological impact of RM on cardiovascular regulation remains insufficiently characterized and requires further systematic investigation. An acute reduction in blood pressure may be postulated, potentially mediated by mechanisms involving changes in total peripheral resistance, which could be linked to modifications in tissue mechanical characteristics. In parallel, a contributory role of autonomic regulation cannot be excluded, as shifts in sympathetic and parasympathetic activity may also influence cardiovascular responses.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
29
The RM intervention was conducted using a Theraband® Roller Massager (The Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH, USA). All procedures were performed exclusively on the right thigh and administered by the same investigator to ensure methodological consistency. The protocol included a total of eight sets, four per muscle group, resulting in an overall intervention duration of 4 minutes (2 minutes allocated to the hamstrings and 2 minutes to the quadriceps). Each muscle group underwent four sets of 30 rolling repetitions executed at a controlled cadence of one repetition per second, yielding 30 seconds of continuous rolling per set.
University of Palermo
Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Blood Pressure
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were assessed in the supine position using a validated automated oscillometric monitor (Omron MX3 Plus; Omron Healthcare, model HEM-742-E). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and rate pressure product (RPP) were subsequently derived using conventional formulas.
Time frame: - Day 1: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention; - Day 2: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention.
Heart rate variability
Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded with participants resting supine on a medical examination table for an additional 5 minutes under quiet and controlled conditions. During this recording phase, beat-to-beat RR intervals were continuously monitored using a validated Polar H10 chest-strap heart rate sensor (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland). HRV metrics were derived from both time-domain and frequency-domain analyses, providing a comprehensive evaluation of cardiac autonomic modulation.
Time frame: - Day 1: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention; - Day 2: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention.
Tissue Hardness
Tissue hardness (TH) was quantified in Newton using a portable tissue hardness meter (NEUTONE TDM-N1; TRY-ALL Corp., Chiba, Japan). For hamstring evaluation, the ischial tuberosity and the popliteal fossa were used as proximal and distal anatomical reference points, respectively. Two measurement sites were identified within the proximal third of the posterior right thigh: a lateral site corresponding to the biceps femoris and a medial site corresponding to the semitendinosus/semimembranosus complex. Quadriceps TH was assessed using the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) as the proximal landmark, and the superior border of the patella as the distal landmark. (1) the midpoint between the ASIS and the superior patellar border, and (2) a point located at the proximal third of the same linear distance.
Time frame: - Day 1: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention; - Day 2: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention.
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