Data suggest that RM-induced neural inhibition decreased MVIC F200 and nullified the testing-induced increase in evoked pain associated with 70% tetanic stimulation.

Cavanaugh, MT, Aboodarda, SJ, Hodgson, DD, and Behm, DG. Foam rolling of quadriceps decreases biceps femoris activation. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2238-2245, 2017-Foam rolling has been shown to increase range of motion without subsequent performance impairments of the rolled muscle, however, there are no studies examining rolling effects on antagonist muscles. The objective of this study was to determine whether foam rolling the hamstrings and/or quadriceps would affect hamstrings and quadriceps activation in men and women. Recreationally, active men (n = 10, 25 ± 4.6 years, 180.1 ± 4.4 cm, 86.5 ± 15.7 kg) and women (n = 8, 21.75 ± 3.2 years, 166.4 ± 8.8 cm, 58.9 ± 7.9 kg) had surface electromyographic activity analyzed in the dominant vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles on a single leg landing from a hurdle jump under 4 conditions. Conditions included rolling of the hamstrings, quadriceps, both muscle groups, and a control session. Biceps femoris activation significantly decreased after quadriceps foam rolling (F(1,16) = 7.45, p = 0.015, -8.9%). There were no significant changes in quadriceps activation after hamstrings foam rolling. This might be attributed to the significantly greater levels of perceived pain with quadriceps rolling applications (F(1,18) = 39.067, p < 0.001, 98.2%). There were no sex-based changes in activation after foam rolling for VL (F(6,30) = 1.31, p = 0.283), VM (F(6,30) = 1.203, p = 0.332), or BF (F(6,36) = 1.703, p = 0.199). Antagonist muscle activation may be altered after agonist foam rolling, however, it can be suggested that any changes in activation are likely a result of reciprocal inhibition due to increased agonist pain perception.

No abstract

Cavanaugh, MT, Quigley, PJ, Hodgson, DD, Reid, JC, and Behm, DG. Kinesiology tape or compression sleeve applied to the thigh does not improve balance or muscle activation before or following fatigue. J Strength Cond Res 30(7): 1992-2000, 2016-Compression sleeves (CS) and kinesiology tape (KT) are purported to enhance proprioception, however, there is substantial conflict in the literature. Because the beneficial effects of CS and KT are more evident in the literature with recovery, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of CS and KT on balance under acute nonfatigued and postfatigued conditions. Using a within-subject, repeated-measures design, 12 university participants (5 females and 7 males) performed in a random order CS, KT, and Control conditions. Two trials of each test were conducted before the application of CS or KT (pretest 1), immediately after the application (pretest 2), with posttests at 1 and 10 minutes after 4 sets of unilateral Bulgarian squats to failure (1 minute rest between sets). Tests included a Y balance test (measures: distance reached by nondominant foot in anterior, posterior lateral, and posterior medial directions) and drop jump landing balance test from a 50-cm platform (measures: ground reaction force, electromyography, and center of pressure). The fatigue protocol induced 25.3% decrease in unilateral squat repetitions from set 1 to set 4. There were no significant condition main effects or interactions for any balance measure or EMG before or after fatigue. In conclusion, independent of fatigue, there was no significant effect of CS or KT on balance outcomes immediately and up to 10 minutes following the fatiguing intervention. Thus, nonfatigued or muscles weakened by fatigue did not benefit from CS and KT application.

2019) Quadriceps foam rolling and rolling massage increases hip flexion and extension passive range-of-motion. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 23 (3). ABSTRACT 34Increases in joint range-of-motion may be beneficial for improving performance and 35 reducing injury risk. This study investigated the effects of different self-massage volumes and 36 modalities on passive hip range-of-motion. Twenty-five recreationally resistance-trained men 37 performed four experimental protocols using a counterbalanced, randomized, and within-38 subjects design; foam rolling (FR) or roller massage (RM) for 60 or 120-second. Passive hip 39 flexion and extension range-of-motion were measured in a counterbalanced and randomized 40 order via manual goniometry before self-massage (baseline) and immediately, 10-, 20-, and 41 30-minute following each self-massage intervention. Following FR or RM of quadriceps, 42 there was an increase in hip flexion range-of-motion at Post-0 (FR: ∆=19.28º; RM: 43 ∆=14.96º), Post-10 (FR: ∆=13.03º; RM: ∆=10.40º), and Post-20 (FR: ∆= 6.00º; RM: 44 ∆=4.64º) for all protocols, but not exceed the minimum detectable change at Post-10 for 45 RM60 and RM120, and Post-20 for FR60, FR120, RM60, and RM120. Similarly, hip 46 extension range-of-motion increase at Post-0 (FR: ∆=8.56º; RM: ∆=6.56º), Post-10 (FR: 47 ∆=4.64º; RM: ∆=3.92º), and Post-20 (FR: ∆=2.80º; RM: ∆=1.92º), but not exceed the 48 minimum detectable change at Post-10 for FR60, RM60, and RM120, and Post-20 for FR60, 49 FR120, RM60, and RM120. In conclusion, both FR and RM increased hip range-of-motion 50 but larger volumes (120-vs. 60-second) and FR produced the greatest increases. These 51 findings have implications for self-massage prescription and implementation, in both 52 rehabilitation and athletic populations. 53

No abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a standardized test to determine quadriceps and hamstrings muscle activation in a position emulating a noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. We assessed the intrasession and intersession reliability of surface electromyography (EMG) of the dominant leg after single-leg landing from a standardized hurdle jump. Eighteen subjects (10 males, 8 females) participated in 4 repeated sessions. During each session, individuals performed 3 successful jumps over a hurdle set to 75% of their maximal countermovement jump height and landed on their dominant leg. A jump was only considered successful if the individual could maintain the landing position for longer than 2 seconds after initial ground contact. In one of the 4 sessions, subjects were tested again after a 4-minute rest. The activation of the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), and biceps femoris (BF), were examined by quantifying the root mean squared (RMS) EMG for 2 seconds immediately after the initial contact. Data from all 3 successful jumps were used to generate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), which were then used to determine intrasession and intersession reliability of surface EMG for each muscle. Intrasession reliability was excellent with ICC values of 0.96, 0.94, and 0.93 for the VL, VM, and BF, respectively. Additionally, intersession ICCs were 0.92 (VL), 0.95 (VM), and 0.94 (BF). The standardized hurdle jump with single-leg landing seemed to be a reliable technique for measuring muscle activation for 3 muscles that contribute to knee stabilization.