Supporting post-exercise recovery requires choosing not only the right treatment but also the equipment, in which the impact is not always clear. The study aimed to determine the effect of foam rolling on the rate of lactate removal and DOMS prevention and whether the type of foam roller is effective in the context of post-exercise recovery. This randomized trial enrolled 33 active healthy males divided into three groups of eleven individuals: foam rolling with a smooth (STH) or grid roller (GRID) or passive recovery (PAS). All the participants performed full squat jumps for one minute. Examination took place at rest (thermal imaging of skin temperature–[T_sk] and blood lactate–[LA]), immediately following exercise (T_sk & LA), immediately after recovery treatment (T_sk) and after 30 minutes of rest (T_sk & LA). Their pain levels were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after exercise. The magnitude of lactate decrease depended on the type of recovery used. In the PAS group, the decrease in lactate concentration by 2.65 mmol/L following a half-hour rest was significantly lower than that in the other groups (STH vs. PAS p = 0.042 / GRID vs. PAS p = 0.025). For thermal responses, significant differences between both experimental groups were noted only 30 minutes after exercise. A significant decrease in pain in the STH group occurred between 48 and 96 hours, while the GRID group showed a systematic significant decrease in VAS values in subsequent measurements. Changes in VAS values in subsequent measurements in the PAS group were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Foam rolling seems to be effective for enhancing lactate clearance and counteracting DOMS, but the type of foam roller does not seem to influence the recovery rate.

Background and Study Aim. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis are a crucial mechanism of adaptation to physical exercise, in particular in combat sports. This study assesses changes of the relevant hormonal profiles upon performance in selected combat sports. Material and Methods. Participants (130 men practicing combat sports at a high level) were divided by discipline: karate (K), taekwondo (T), and judo, wrestling, and sumo combined (JWS). Blood concentration of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, testosterone, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was determined before and after fighting. Results. Following fighting, the adrenaline concentration was significantly higher in all athletes, most markedly in K (p < 0.001). Baseline cortisol and BDNF levels did not differ among the groups and rose significantly in all the groups after the performance. Baseline testosterone concentration was slightly higher in K than in JSW and rose in all the groups to reach similar levels; the increase in T was significantly higher than in K. Conclusions. Despite substantial differences in the characteristics of the combat sports investigated, including the type of physical effort and the required balance between restraint and aggression, the performance in each of them gives rise to similar hormonal changes with a possible exception of karate showing higher stress hormone levels.

Purpose Massage therapy is one of most commonly applied treatments during athletic training. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of sports massage therapy on reducing post-exercise quadriceps muscle soreness. Methods A sample of 29 women aged 24-26 years was divided into an experimental group (n = 15) receiving classic sports massage therapy and a control group (n = 14) given no treatment. An exercise session consisting of five sets of deep squat jumps was administered after which lower limb power as assessed via the vertical jump test. Muscle soreness was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and exercise intensity with the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale. Subsequent measurements of lower limb power and muscle soreness were performed 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after the exercise session. Differences between the measurements were assessed by the Friedman and least significant difference tests while between-group comparisons involved the Mann-Whitney U test. Results The largest decrease in lower limb power was observed between the first measurement after the exercise session and 24 h later (p < 0.01). The smallest decrease in power was observed in the massage group. The highest levels of muscle soreness were noted 24 h post-exercise in the massage group and 48 h post-exercise in the control group. The experimental group showed a decrease in muscle soreness in each subsequent measurement, with the results close to zero on the VAS 96 h postexercise. Conclusions Massage therapy quickened recovery and improved muscle efficiency post-exercise and may serve as an effective treatment of muscle soreness. The analgesic effect of massage suggests it should be widely applied in sport, physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Summary: Study aim: To determine the effect of foam rolling on the functional limitations of the musculoskeletal system.Material and methods: The study encompassed 37 healthy and physically active women divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised women who performed self-massage with a foam roller after physical effort twice a week, for two months. Group 2 (control) comprised women who did not undergo any exercises or treatment after physical effort. The study used the following research tools: the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) test, the Core Muscle Strength and Stability Test (CMS&ST), and the Sit and Reach Test.Results: The study revealed that foam rolling minimized functional limitations (as measured with the FMS test). The differences between the first and second measurement in Group 1 were statistically significant (p=0.014). In the control group, the results of both measurements were similar. In the CMS&ST, the maximal result of three minutes was not achieved. Moreover, no improvement of results was observed. In the Sit and Reach Test, a statistically significant improvement in the flexibility of the posterior muscles of the thigh was noted in Group 1 (right lower limb p=0.009, left lower limb p = 0.007).Conclusions: 1. Foam rolling may minimize the functional limitations of the musculoskeletal system. It is recommended to incorporate self-myofascial release techniques after physical effort into training. 2. Using foam rolling helped maintain the results obtained in the Core Muscle Strength and Stability Test. Therefore, foam rolling may help maintain the achieved core stability.

Summary: Study aim : The objective of the study was to reveal the functional limits of the motor system in women practising combat sports and team sports. Material and methods: 102 women (mean age 25.2 years, body mass 62.2 kg, body height 168.3 cm) practising competitive ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) taekwon-do (n = 22), Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) (n = 15), football (n = 35) and basketball (n = 30) participated in the study. The assessment tool was the FMS test, comprising 7 movement patterns scored on a scale of 0–3. Results: The studied female athletes earned medium scores. Women practising combat sports scored generally higher in the FMS test, although the difference was not significant (combat sports – mean value 15.57 ± 2.39, team sports – mean value 14.72 ± 1.93, difference – p = 0.07). Statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) were observed in the second (hurdle step) and the fifth pattern (active straight leg raise – ASLR). The aggregated FMS results of female taekwon-do (15.77) and BJJ athletes (15.22) were similar. Significant differences ( p < 0.05) were observed in one pattern (ASLR). Women practising football (14.77) and basketball (14.67) attained a similar level of results in the test. Statistically significant differences were noted in two trials: footballers scored higher in the ASLR task ( p < 0.05), and basketball players scored higher in rotary stability ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: A statistically significant result in the FMS test was obtained by martial arts athletes, which may point to a higher level of functional movement, which may be a result of more universal training.