Perceived pain responses to foam rolling associate with basal heart rate variability

Marvette Wilkerson, Christopher Anderson, Gregory J. Grosicki, Andrew A. Flatt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Foam rolling (FR) is a self-myofascial release technique with unclear effects on autonomic functioning, indexed by heart rate variability (HRV). FR can be perceived as painful or relax-ing, which may explain interindividual HRV responses. Purpose: To determine if acute FR alters resting HRV. A secondary aim was to determine if perceived pain during FR would predict HRV responses. Setting: Academic institution. Methods: In a randomized, crossover design, healthy adults (50% female) performed total body FR or control on sepa-rate days. Perceived pain ratings were obtained following FR of each muscle group and summed to generate an overall perceived pain rating. Seated measures of the mean RR interval and the natural logarithm of the root-mean square of suc-cessive RR interval differences (LnRMSSD, a parasympathetic HRV index) were obtained at 5-10 min pre-, 5-10 min post-, and 25-30 min post-FR. Results: No effects were observed for RR interval (p = .105–.561) or LnRMSSD (p = .110–.129). All effect sizes ranged from trivial–small (0.00–0.26). Changes in RR interval (r = 0.220–0.228, p = .433–.488) and LnRMSSD (r = 0.013–0.256, p = .376–.964) were not associated with pain scale sum. Baseline LnRMSSD was associated with pain scale sum (r =-0.663; p = .001). Conclusion: FR did not systematically alter HRV, nor did perceived pain ratings predict HRV responses. Those with lower pre-FR HRV reported higher perceived pain during FR. Basal cardiac autonomic activity may, therefore, influence pain sen-sitivity to FR in healthy adults.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14-21
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Research, Education, and Practice
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2021

Keywords

  • Cardiac autonomic
  • Rolling massage
  • Self-myofascial release

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