Acute effects of foam rolling on jump performance and neuromuscular responses following resistance exercise
Coşkun Rodoplu, Josef Fischer, Mert Arabacı, Yahya Yıldırım, Hüseyin Topçu, Ufuk Şekir et al. · Frontiers in Physiology · 2026
Introduction: A single bout of high-load resistance exercise can induce acute neuromuscular fatigue, necessitating effective recovery strategies to maintain explosive performance. However, the effects of foam rolling (FR) on vertical and horizontal jump performance and muscle excitation following fatiguing resistance exercise remain unclear. This study examined the acute effects of FR compared with passive recovery (PR) on vertical and horizontal jump performance and lower-extremity muscle excitation following a fatiguing resistance exercise protocol.
Methods: Thirty-one healthy, physically active men (age: 21.6 ± 1.3 years; body mass: 75.3 ± 10.3 kg; height: 180.6 ± 7.2 cm) completed a randomized crossover trial comparing FR and PR. Measurements were obtained at pre-test, immediately after exercise (mid-test), and after an 8-min recovery intervention (post-test). Jump performance was assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ) and single-leg hop for distance (SLHD), while surface electromyography was recorded from the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius muscles during both tasks.
Results: ).
Conclusion: These
Findings: indicate that FR facilitated the post-exercise restoration of vertical jump performance and produced an acute enhancement in horizontal jump performance following resistance exercise, yet the performance benefits were not accompanied by measurable changes in normalized muscle excitation. The
results underscore the potential of FR as a practical recovery tool for improving functional performance, while the underlying physiological mechanisms remain uncertain.