REGIONAL BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE CHANGES FOLLOWING SELFMYOFASCIAL RELEASE WITH FOAM ROLLER: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Purpose: An increase in local impedance values after Foam Roller (FR) was previously shown, possibly indicating water loss in the treated segment [1]. This study aimed to evaluate the acute changes in the raw bioelectrical impedance parameters of different body segments following self-myofascial release using a FR on the dominant lower limb (DLL). Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted comparing a FR intervention group with a control (CON) group. 27 participants (age: 24.63 ± 2.55 years; female: 40.74%) were enrolled, with 16 participants (age: 25.31 ± 2.87 years) in the FR group and 11 participants (age: 23.64 ± 1.63 years) in the CON group. The FR protocol comprised 3 consecutive sets of 60-s exercises targeting the foot, calf, tibialis anterior, peroneal muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors, iliotibial band, and glutes, while the CON group performed a similar protocol using a skateboard to simulate FR movements without exerting massage. Both resistance (Rz) and reactance (Xc) values were assessed at baseline, at the end of the protocol, after 15 min, and 30 min using the regional-BIA technique according to the manufacturer’s suggestions (BIA 101 Anniversary, Akern, Italy). A 2 (group) 9 4 (time) Repeated Measures ANOVA for each body segment was applied to compare Rz and Xc values between groups at different time points. Results: Significant differences were observed across various time points in all body segments, except trunk, for Rz of the D upper limb (DUL) (F = 5.44, p = 0.02), non- dominant upper limb (NDUL) (F = 10.32, p\0.001), upper body (UB) (F = 10.92, p\0.001), lower body (LB) (F = 52.38, p\0.001), DLL (F = 40.10, p = \0.001), non-dominant lower limb (NDLL) (F = 59.86, p = \0.001) and Xc of the DUL (F = 10.67, p = 0.002), NDUL (F = 14.30, p\0.001), UB (F = 23.23, p\0.001), LB (F = 52.74, p\0.001), DLL (F = 50.45, p = \0.001), NDLL (F = 22.86, p = \0.001). Bioelectrical variables decreased in both upper limbs and the UB following the protocol until 15 min, after which they increased. Conversely, in the lower limbs and the LB, both Rz and Xc increased at all time points. No differences between groups or interactions were detected. Conclusions: This study suggests that bodily fluids migrate due to the execution of movements that engage the body, regardless of whether self-myofascial release or its simulation is performed.