Roller Massage and Blood Pressure

NCT07520474 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: RM-BP 60625-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 29
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Roller massage (RM), frequently described within the broader framework of self-myofascial release, has emerged as a widely adopted modality among rehabilitation practitioners and physically active populations. Previous investigations on RM have reported improvements in joint range of motion, small to trivial enhancements in selected performance measures, attenuation of exercise-induced muscle soreness, and reductions in pain perception. While the evidence base supporting mobility, performance, muscle soreness and pain sensitivity adaptations is relatively well developed, considerably less attention has been directed toward the blood pressure responses to RM and the potential underlying mechanisms. Consequently, the physiological impact of RM on cardiovascular regulation remains insufficiently characterized and requires further systematic investigation. An acute reduction in blood pressure may be postulated, potentially mediated by mechanisms involving changes in total peripheral resistance, which could be linked to modifications in tissue mechanical characteristics. In parallel, a contributory role of autonomic regulation cannot be excluded, as shifts in sympathetic and parasympathetic activity may also influence cardiovascular responses.

Conditions

Healthy Young Adults; Healthy Adult Participants; Healthy Participants

Keywords

massage roller; cardiovascular health; stiffness; peripheral resistance; heart rate variability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Blood Pressure

  Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were assessed in the supine position using a validated automated oscillometric monitor (Omron MX3 Plus; Omron Healthcare, model HEM-742-E). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and rate pressure product (RPP) were subsequently derived using conventional formulas.

  - Day 1: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention; - Day 2: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Heart rate variability

  - Day 1: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention; - Day 2: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention.

• Tissue Hardness

  - Day 1: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention; - Day 2: Baseline (upon arrival) and immediately post-intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Roller Massage Intervention (RM)

EXPERIMENTAL

The RM intervention was conducted using a Theraband® Roller Massager (The Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH, USA). All procedures were performed exclusively on the right thigh and administered by the same investigator to ensure methodological consistency. The protocol included a total of eight sets, four per muscle group, resulting in an overall intervention duration of 4 minutes (2 minutes allocated to the hamstrings and 2 minutes to the quadriceps). Each muscle group underwent four sets of 30 rolling repetitions executed at a controlled cadence of one repetition per second, yielding 30 seconds of continuous rolling per set.

Other: Roller Massage Intervention (RM)

Passive Control Session

NO INTERVENTION

During the passive control condition, participants remained in a supine position on a standard medical examination bed for 8 minutes. This duration was matched to the total time required for the RM protocol, thereby ensuring temporal equivalence between conditions. Throughout the period between the T0 and T1 assessments, no active interventions were administered.

Interventions

Roller Massage Intervention (RM) OTHER

The RM intervention was conducted using a Theraband® Roller Massager (The Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH, USA). All procedures were performed exclusively on the right thigh and administered by the same investigator to ensure methodological consistency. The protocol included a total of eight sets, four per muscle group, resulting in an overall intervention duration of 4 minutes (2 minutes allocated to the hamstrings and 2 minutes to the quadriceps). Each muscle group underwent four sets of 30 rolling repetitions executed at a controlled cadence of one repetition per second, yielding 30 seconds of continuous rolling per set.

Roller Massage Intervention (RM)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• healthy participants aged 18 years or older.

You may not qualify if:

• orthopedic disorders
• neurological disorders
• renal disorders
• metabolic disorders
• musculoskeletal disorders
• cardiovascular disorders
• use of antihypertensive medication.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Palermo: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Palermo

Palermo, Sicily, 90144, Italy

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ewan Thomas - Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Educational Science, and Human Movement

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 2, 2026
• First Posted: April 9, 2026
• Study Start: May 12, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 31, 2025
• Study Completion: July 31, 2025
• Last Updated: April 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

IT (1)