Table 3 Foam roller therapy characteristics
Study | Type of foam roller | Characteristics of foam roller | Time | Application mode | body region | Combined therapy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kumar et al. [19] | Non-vibrational FR | 1 feet long and 6 inches in diameter | 1 min, twice a day/7 days per week/4 weeks | Self-application | Hip to knee (anteriorly, laterally, medially, posteriorly) | Swiss ball |
Ozsoy et Al. [21] | Non-vibrational FR | Theraband®, The Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH | 30 s on each muscle with 1 min rest during 3 sets/3 days per week/6 weeks | After exercise/Therapist-application | Superficial back line (plantar fascia and short toe flexors, gastrocnemius/Achilles tendon, hamstrings and sacrolumbar fascia/erector spinae) | Core stabilization exercises + hot pack + TENS |
Cabrera-Martos et al. [23] | Non-vibrational FR | Plastic cylinder and ball, with an outer covering of dense foam | 15 min on each muscle area, 3 days per week/4 weeks | Before exercises/Self-application | Upper cervical spine, lower cervical spine, upper back and neck muscles | Active upper limb neurodynamic exercises |
Ranbhor et al. [20] | Non-vibrational FR | NR | 45 s per muscle area, 5 reps with 15 s rest/1 day | Self-application | Calf muscles and plantar fascia | - |
Hameed et al. [22] | Non-vibrational FR | NR | 2 min, 5 days per week/2 weeks | Self-application | Metatarsals to medial arch | Ultrasound therapy |
Yokochi et al. [24] | Non-vibrational FR | TheraBand®, Akron, OH, USA | 60 s, 3 reps on each muscle area, twice a day, 6 days per week/3 weeks | Before exercise/Therapist-application | Anterior, medial and lateral thigh | Regular physical therapy |