Evaluation of the local and distant effects of the self-myofascial release using a foam roller on biomechanical parameters of soft tissues and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) in the healthy subjects.

Each participant assigned to one of the intervention groups will perform a) 30 seconds, b) 120 seconds of self-myofascial release therapy with the soft version of the foam roller. The therapy will be provided by placing the hamstrings muscle group of participants dominant lower limb (posterior thigh) on the foam roller and making repeatable movements back and forth which provide rhythmically a mechanical pressure on soft tissues. The intervention will be provided by participants themselves after They finish short training with instruction provided by two Ph.D. students with a masters degree in physiotherapy and expertise level and experience in the field of Self Myofascial Release (SMR) with Foam Roller (FR). The training will consist of two parts. The first part will include the demonstration of the proper rolling technique made by the instructor. The second part will include the 60 seconds of FR made by a participant. During the second part, the instructor will provide additional information and correct the technique if necessary. It is described in the literature that such type of autotherapy could potentially release tension and adhesions in muscle and fascia, increase tissues blood flow and oxygenation, finish the local energetic crisis, reduce muscle pain and irritation and improve range of motion without an additional concomitant deficit in muscle strength. The foam roller that will be used for intervention is a hard surface, 31 x 16 cm size, cert. ISO 9001:2009, ISO 14001:2005. Arm 1 & Arm 2 The participant will meet with researches two times, face to face, in an interval of three days. On the first meeting (approximately 1 hour), participants will complete foam rolling training and get instruction on how to maintain the proper lifestyle before the intervention. On the second meeting (approximately 2 hours) participants who will be randomly assigned to one of the intervention groups, will perform SMR with FR for 30 seconds (Arm 1) and 120 seconds (Arm 2). Before and after the therapy, the investigator will carry out measurements of the participant in accordance with the protocol. The intervention will occur in Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of physiotherapy, the University of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland.