The Effect of Self-Myofascial Release Technique via Foam Roller on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Level

Exercise-induced muscle damage triggers an inflammatory response, leading to the clinical condi-tion known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Various recovery strategies are being devel-oped to mitigate the effects of DOMS. One increasingly popular approach is self-myofascial release (SMR). However, knowledge in this area remains limited, and further research is essential. The pur-pose of this study was to examine the changes in the intensity of DOMS over a 72-hour period post-exercise in individuals whoperformed SMR compared to those who did not. This cross-sectional study employed a fully experimental design with experimental and control groups. Participants in both groups (control: n=16; experimental: n=16) underwent a high-intensity interval training(HIIT) program to induce muscle damage. To assess the impact of SMR on DOMS, the experimental group was incorporated into a post-HIIT SMR intervention, while the control group did not receive any post-exercise intervention. Pain intensity was measured using a pain scale immediately before, im-mediately after, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-HIIT. Statistical analysis revealed significant effects for time, group, and the time-by-group interaction, with differences between the groups becoming particularly evident at 48 and 72 hours. Additionally, the experimental group showed a more con-trolled increase in pain intensity and a faster reduction in pain compared to the control group. These findings suggest that SMR is a viable strategy for alleviating exercise-induced muscle soreness and accelerating recovery. However, it is recommended that further studies explore the long-term ef-fects of this method and its potential benefits across different types of exercise.