The Effects of a Foam Rolling Protocol on Ankle Range of Motion, Ankle Stability, and Athletic Performance in Elite Rhythmic Gymnasts

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Athletes

• Registration Number: NCT07113249
• Lead Sponsor: University of Palermo

Brief Summary

Rhythmic Gymnastics is an Olympic discipline featuring individual or team competition. Regardless of the type of competition, athletes undergo rigorous training focused on enhancing their coordination, joint range of motion, and jump height. Each rhythmic gymnast voluntarily underwent testing at their own gym after reading and signing the informed consent document. During the first session, general information was collected on all participants (age, weight, and height), followed by an assessment of athletic performance and joint mobility parameters. For the jump performance parameters, the Counter Movement Jump test (CMJ) was used through an optical detecting system. An inertial sensor was used to measure joint mobility, while a pressure platform was used to measure ankle stability, using a single-leg jump protocol. Subsequently, participants were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The EG performed three sets, each lasting 60 seconds, with a 30-second break between sets for two times for week for 3 weeks. During each FR session, a complete sequential movement was always performed, starting from the gastrocnemius muscles and ending with the soleus muscle. At the end of the three weeks, all measurements were repeated.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2025-05-01
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-15
• Study Completion: 2025-06-30
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Study First Submitted: 2025-08-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-08-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-08-02
• Study First Posted: 2025-08-08
• Last Update Posted: 2025-08-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

• Active participation in competitive training programs (at least 10 hours per week), at least one year of experience in competitions organized by the Italian Gymnastics Federation, and no recent injuries.

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of current or not fully recovered injuries to the ankle or foot, and irregular participation in training sessions within the four weeks preceding the study.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Counter Movement Jump (CMJ)	5 minutes	Initially, the athlete stands upright on a flat surface or force platform, feet shoulder-width apart, hands on hips (to eliminate arm swing). Without a pause, the athlete performs a quick downward movement (countermovement) by bending the knees and hips, then immediately jumps vertically as high as possible. The athlete lands in an upright position on the same spot, trying to absorb the impact with knees slightly bent. Jump height and flight time is recorded using an optical system, Optojump™ system(Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) connected to a personal computer with dedicated software(OptojumpTM Next software). The system consists of two optical bars, a receiver and a transmitter, positioned 1m apart. The bars identify ground contact time(with a precision of 1ms) and then convert non-contact time into cm. Based on recommendations on optimal jump height (20 to 60cm).
Ankle Dorsiflexion ROM	5 minutes	Each participant was fitted with an inertial sensor (Beyond Inertial, Motusech, Roma, Itay) in the center of the foot, using an elastic band supplied with the sensor. The starting position was standardized with the subjects sitting on a medical bed with the popliteal cord attached to the edge of the bed, forming a 90° angle. The position of the foot, on the other hand, was placed in a neutral position using a laser level. Subsequently, the dorsal flexion movement was performed.
Ankle Stability	8 minutes	Ankle stability was assessed using a functional monopodalic protocol, which involved four jumps on one foot: two per leg, both frontally and laterally. These jumps were performed by stepping over an adjustable obstacle set at 70% of the maximum height reached on a pressure platform (SensorMedica freeMed 40×40, Guidonia Montecelio, Italy). The platform has an active sensory surface of 40×40 cm with a thickness of only 8 mm and a low weight of approximately 4 kg. Inside, there are resistive sensors coated in 24K gold on conductive rubber, with a density of approximately 10,000 sensors/m².The acquisition frequency is high, up to 400 Hz, allowing for detailed dynamic analysis, and the sensors have a life cycle of over 1,000,000 cycles of use

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Palermo; 🇮🇹 Palermo, Italy