Publications

Background: Foam Rolling (FR) involves applying intense pressure to soft tissues, which can cause discomfort or pain due to the mechanical stimulation. This study aims to explore the relationship between individuals’ attitudes toward pain and the changes in the biomechanical properties of myofascial tissues induced by FR, as measured using myotonometry. Understanding this relationship may be valuable for optimizing recovery and performance in both recreational and athletic settings.

Methods: Thirty-two healthy men (mean age: 24.3 ± 4.56 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: ROL30 (30 s of FR) and ROL120 (120 s of FR). The MyotonPRO device was used to evaluate changes in biomechanical parameters: stiffness, frequency, logarithmic decrement, relaxation time, and creep, before and after FR. Measurements were taken from the gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, erector spinae, and longissimus colli muscles. Data were analyzed for each muscle and as a combined sum across both sides of the body. Psychological factors were assessed using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Survey of Pain Attitudes (SOPA), analyzing both total and subscale scores. Correlations between PCS/SOPA scores and changes in myotonometric parameters were calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results: In the ROL30 group, 11 significant correlations were found between myotonometric changes and PCS/SOPA scores (r ranging from −0.55 to −0.76 and from 0.54 to 0.77), with the most prominent correlation observed between the sum of decrement and PCS total score (r = −0.55). In the ROL120 group, 3 significant correlations were identified (r ranging from −0.60 to −0.62), including a notable one between the sum of decrement and PCS helplessness (r = −0.60).

Conclusions: Attitudes toward pain appear to show associations with certain outcomes of foam rolling. These findings suggest that individual pain perceptions may be related to the applied force during FR and, consequently, the treatment’s effectiveness. Assessing pain-related attitudes beforehand could help personalize FR interventions, particularly in athletes and active individuals, where pain is a routine aspect of training. Identifying negative pain attitudes may also improve pain management and enhance FR effectiveness, though further research is needed. Future studies should include larger sample sizes and validated scales to better understand the role of pain attitudes and their potential causal influence on FR outcomes.

Keywords: foam rolling, pain catastrophizing, myotonometry, stiffness, pain attitude, physiotherapy, sports, pain

To some extent, the approach to pain is correlated with the effects of FR, which may account for the reduced benefits observed in certain subjects. A longer duration of foam rolling may reduce the influence of pain-related psychological factors on biomechanical outcomes, thereby enhancing the consistency of responses within the study population. Additionally, pain assessment scales should be incorporated into future research on FR and other forms of intense mechanical therapy, such as sports massage or other intensive fascial interventions. Examining attitudes toward pain in individuals undergoing FR may enhance the effectiveness of this form of self-therapy in certain populations.