Body Tempering vs Foam Rolling for Leg Strength

Overseen By Matthew D Geary, DPT, EdD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of South Carolina

Must not be taking: Anticoagulants

Disqualifiers: Knee injury, Hypertension, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

30 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of body tempering on healthy volunteers between the ages of 18-39. The main question it aims to answer is will the intervention have an impact on immediate or 24-hour measures of lower extremity power as measured by the: vertical jump test? standing long jump test? Researchers will compare an alternate intervention of foam rolling self-myofascial release to see if any changes in jump test performance are comparable. Participants will perform a brief warm-up followed by baseline performance of the two jump tests (5 repetitions each). Participants will be randomized into one of two groups: either application of the body tempering intervention or performance of self-myofascial release via foam rolling. Following the intervention, participants will be asked to perform 3 repetitions of each outcome measure (jump test); participants will be asked to return 24 hours later where they will guided through the same warm-up as the day prior and will again perform 5 repetitions of each jump test.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy individuals aged 18-39 who are interested in the effects of body tempering and foam rolling on leg strength. Participants will be tested on their ability to perform vertical and standing long jumps before and after the interventions, as well as 24 hours later.

Inclusion Criteria

I am healthy and between 18 and 39 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a bone infection.

Pregnancy

I have inflammation in my joints.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Baseline Assessment

Participants perform a brief warm-up followed by baseline performance of the vertical jump and standing long jump tests

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants are randomized into either the body tempering or foam rolling intervention group and perform the respective intervention followed by jump tests

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants return 24 hours later for reassessment of jump tests and complete a Global Rating of Change scale

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Body Tempering
• Foam Rolling

Trial Overview Researchers are testing whether body tempering or foam rolling can improve lower extremity power immediately or within a day. The study involves baseline jump tests, random assignment to one of the two techniques, immediate post-intervention testing, and follow-up tests after 24 hours.

Participant Groups

Group I: Body Tempering Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participant will be positioned prone on the Body Tempering Ab Mat with their feet hanging off the end of the mat. The body tempering intervention will be applied by the same investigator for all trials. The body tempering device will be applied dynamically to each participant for 4 minutes, with the device placed on both participants' lower extremities at the same time. First, the examiner will set a timer for two minutes and begin rolling one 80-pound body tempering device along the participant's gastrocnemius-soleus complex at a rate of 30 beats per minute, traveling from the Achilles tendon (medial malleolus) to the inferior aspect of the popliteal fossa, indicated by fibular head. The participant will then take thirty seconds to transition to a supine position and receive tempering with an 80-pound tempering device along their middle to distal quadriceps, set a timer for 2 minutes.

Group II: Foam rolling self-myofascial release Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be instructed via standardized script to perform self-myofascial release (SMR) on their gastrocnemius-soleus complex and quadriceps muscles. The first SMR sequence will be performed by having the participant place the foam roller behind both calves, beginning the roll at the medial malleolus and ending at the inferior aspect of the popliteal fossa, indicated by the fibular head. The participant will perform this for two minutes, rolling at a tempo of 30 beats per minute. Next, the participant will take thirty seconds to transition to a prone position, placing the foam roller just distal to the hip crease, just inferior to the AIIS, and rolling inferiorly to the area just proximal to the most superior aspect of the patella. This self-release sequence will be performed for two minutes at a tempo of 30 beats per minute. The total time should be four minutes, matching the total time of the experimental intervention group.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

233

Recruited

122,000+