You have full access to this open access article. The aim of this randomized placebo-controlled crossover study was to compare the acute effect on young athletes of a single session of roller massager RM with that obtained from passive static stretching PSS and a placebo intervention PL on hamstring flexibility and on strength.
Twenty-nine 23 male, 6 female young athletes completed the study. Only the RM intervention was significantly higher than the PL intervention sham ultrasound. Stretching intervention was not significantly different from either of the other two interventions. None of the three interventions significantly changed the muscle strength in the short term.
RM can be considered as an effective alternative to stretching to increase the flexibility of the hamstring. This could be meaningful when stretching is contraindicated or evokes pain.
In human anatomy, the hamstring muscles are significantly implicated in the lower limb kinematics and in posture [ 1 ]. The correct activation of this muscle group, alongside those of the quadriceps femoris and the support of the anterior cruciate ligament, is crucial in the swing phase of the gait cycle, the balance of the lower limb, and the position of the pelvis [ 1 ].
Posterior thigh strains are commonly observed in athletes of different disciplines [ 2 ] and are the most frequently observed injuries in high-level soccer players, representing 12β Additionally, a recent study suggested that hamstring flexibility is not only a risk factor for posterior thigh muscle injuries but also a key factor corresponding to soccer-specific skills, such as sprinting, jumping, agility, and kicking [ 8 ].
