The Recovery Benefit on Skin Blood Flow Using Vibrating Foam Rollers for Postexercise Muscle Fatigue in Runners

• Main Authors: Yi-Horng Lai, Ai-Yi Wang, Chia-Chi Yang, Lan-Yuen Guo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: vibrating roller; recovery of muscle fatigue; skin blood flow; blood flow oscillation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/9118

Purpose: To determine the effect of vibrating rollers on skin blood flow after running for recovery from muscle fatigue. Method: 23 healthy runners, aged between 20 to 45 years, participated in a crossover trial. Muscle fatigue was induced by running, and recovery using a vibrating roller was determined before and after the intervention. Each subject was measured at three time points (prerun, postrun, and postroller) to compare skin blood flow perfusion and blood flow oscillation at the midpoint of the dominant gastrocnemius muscle. The results show that blood perfusion is greater when a vibrating roller is used than a foam roller, but there is no statistical difference. The analysis of blood flow oscillation shows that vibrating rollers induce 30% greater endothelial activation than a foam roller. Vibrating rollers significantly stimulate the characteristic frequency for myogenic activation (<i>p</i> < 0.05); however, the effect size is conservative.