| Comparison of the Effects of Vibratory Foam Rolling and PNF Stretching on Calf Muscles Flexibility, Active joint position sense, and Dynamic Balance in Female Athletes with Chronic Ankle Instability in High-Impact Sports: A Randomized Crossover Study |
| Paper ID : 1499-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
|
mehrnaz ezzati *1, farzaneh yazdani2, nasrin salehi2 1Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is common among athletes in high-impact sports, and reduced calf muscle flexibility, impaired proprioception, and diminished balance significantly increase the risk of recurrent ankle sprains. Recently, the vibratory foam roller, an innovative tool, has gained adoption among athletes. Objective: Given the high prevalence of ankle sprains in high-impact sports and the growing emphasis on injury prevention, this study aimed to compare two evidence-based warm-up interventions—vibratory foam rolling (VFR) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching—in female athletes with CAI. Methods: In this randomized crossover trial, 23 female athletes with CAI participated in two intervention sessions. Each session included three 60-second sets of either intervention with 30 seconds rest between sets. Calf flexibility was measured using the weight-bearing lunge test, active joint position reproduction at 30° plantarflexion and 20° dorsiflexion using the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex system 4 Pro), and dynamic balance with the Y-Balance Test in three directions. Assessments were conducted before and immediately after interventions. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc tests. Results: Both interventions significantly improved calf flexibility and reduced joint position reproduction errors in dorsiflexion and plantarflexion (P<0.05), with greater gains after VFR (P<0.05). Anterior dynamic balance improved significantly with both methods, but posteromedial and posterolateral directions showed no significant changes, though VFR yielded larger (non-significant) improvements. Conclusion: VFR and PNF stretching immediately enhance calf flexibility, ankle proprioception, and anterior balance, with VFR demonstrating superior effects. These interventions operate through neurophysiological mechanisms, including autogenic inhibition and proprioceptor stimulation, but VFR excels in magnitude. Findings provide practical evidence for preventing and managing CAI in high-impact sports; integrating these with posterior-direction balance exercises is recommended for comprehensive outcomes. |
| Keywords |
| Keywords: Chronic ankle instability; Vibratory foam roller; PNF stretching; Calf flexibility; Active joint position sense; Dynamic balance; High-impact sports |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Oral Presentation) |
