EFFECTS OF FOAM ROLLING ON HRV IN ELITE SWIMMERS

NCT07641062 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2023-26/30
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of foam rolling (FR) on recovery by examining selected time-domain and frequency-domain heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in elite swimmers following intensive interval sprint training. It was hypothesized that FR would enhance HRV recovery compared to active recovery performed through swimming.

Conditions

Healthy; Swimming; Autonomic Nervous System Function; Recovery

Keywords

swimming; heart rate variability; foam rolling; recovery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

  Time-Domain Parameters of HRV: RR, SDNN, RMSSD, StressIndex Frequency-Domain Parameters of HRV: VLF, LF, HF mesured 4 time during intervantion Pretest, T1, T2 an Postest

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 15 days

Study Arms (2)

Swimm + Foam rolling (FR)

EXPERIMENTAL

1. Warm-up: 5 min of foam rolling (FR), 5 min of stretching, and 1500 m of low-tempo freestyle swimming (\~20 min). 2. Pre-test: Baseline HR and HRV measurements were recorded. 3. A 50 m swim was performed at 90-100% intensity. 4. HR and HRV were recorded (T1). 5. Participants completed 3 × 50 m swims at 90-100% intensity with passive recovery (\~15 s) between repetitions. 6. HR and HRV were recorded (T2). 7. Recovery Protocol (FR): 750 m of low-intensity freestyle swimming (\~10 min) followed by 10 min of FR. 8. Post-test: HR and HRV were recorded.

Other: Swimming+FoamRollingRecovery

Swimm (NFR)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

1. Warm-up: 5 min of foam rolling (FR), 5 min of stretching, and 1500 m of low-tempo freestyle swimming (\~20 min). 2. Pre-test: Baseline HR and HRV measurements were recorded. 3. A 50 m swim was performed at 90-100% intensity. 4. HR and HRV were recorded (T1). 5. Participants completed 3 × 50 m swims at 90-100% intensity with passive recovery (\~15 s) between repetitions. 6. HR and HRV were recorded (T2). 7. Recovery Protocol (FR): 1500 m of low-intensity freestyle swimming (\~20 min). 8. Post-test: HR and HRV were recorded.

Other: SwimmingRecovery

Interventions

Swimming+FoamRollingRecovery OTHER

warm-up: 5 min FR, 5 min stretching, 1500 m low-tempo freestyle swim (\~20 min). PreT: HR and HRV baseline measurements. 1T: 50 m swim at 90-100% intensity; HRV, recorded. 2T: 3 × 50 m swim at 90-100% intensity with passive rest (\~15 s) between repetitions; HR recorded. Recovery Protocols: FR: 750 m Low Initensity Freestyle Swimming (\~10 min) + 10 min FR. PostT: HRV was recorded.

Swimm + Foam rolling (FR)

SwimmingRecovery OTHER

warm-up: 5 min FR, 5 min stretching, 1500 m low-tempo freestyle swim (\~20 min). PreT: HRV baseline measurements. 1T: 50 m swim at 90-100% intensity; HRV recorded. 2T: 3 × 50 m swim at 90-100% intensity with passive rest (\~15 s) between repetitions; HRV recorded. Recovery Protocols: NFR: 1500 m Low Intensity Freestyle Swimming (\~20 min). PostT: HRV recorded.

Swimm (NFR)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• membership in the National Olympic Preparation Centre (TOHM), (2) ≥5 years of competitive swimming experience, and (3) participation in ≥3 international competitions within the past year

You may not qualify if:

• cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal conditions within the past six months,
• use of medications or stimulants affecting performance within the past three months
• unsuitability for physical activity according to EGZ-A+ assessment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uludag University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bursa Uludag University, Faculty of Sport Sciences

Bursa, 16059, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Solana-Tramunt M, Morales J, Busca B, Carbonell M, Rodriguez-Zamora L. Heart-Rate Variability in Elite Synchronized Swimmers. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2019 Apr 1;14(4):464-471. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2018-0538. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

  PMID: 30300066 BACKGROUND

• Kopec T. Acute Effects of a Single-Session of Full-Body Foam Rolling on Heart Rate Variability. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2022 Dec 1;15(4):18-25. doi: 10.3822/ijtmb.v15i4.739. eCollection 2022 Dec.

  PMID: 36467308 BACKGROUND

• Flatt AA, Hornikel B, Nakamura FY, Esco MR. Effect of Competitive Status and Experience on Heart Rate Variability Profiles in Collegiate Sprint-Swimmers. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Oct 1;36(10):2898-2904. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003992. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

  PMID: 36135035 BACKGROUND

• Chen JY, Lee YL, Tsai WC, Lee CH, Li YH, Tsai LM, Chen JH, Lin LJ. Cardiac autonomic functions derived from short-term heart rate variability recordings associated with nondiagnostic results of treadmill exercise testing. Int Heart J. 2010 Mar;51(2):105-10. doi: 10.1536/ihj.51.105.

  PMID: 20379043 BACKGROUND

• Bestwick-Stevenson T, Toone R, Neupert E, Edwards K, Kluzek S. Assessment of Fatigue and Recovery in Sport: Narrative Review. Int J Sports Med. 2022 Dec;43(14):1151-1162. doi: 10.1055/a-1834-7177. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

  PMID: 35468639 BACKGROUND

• Barrenetxea-Garcia J, Nuell S, Garai S, Murua-Ruiz A, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Calleja-Gonzalez J, Saez de Villarreal E. Effect of Foam Roll recovery method on performance in water polo players: a randomized controlled trial. Phys Sportsmed. 2024 Jun;52(3):262-270. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2023.2240274. Epub 2023 Aug 1.

  PMID: 37526535 BACKGROUND

• Atlaoui D, Pichot V, Lacoste L, Barale F, Lacour JR, Chatard JC. Heart rate variability, training variation and performance in elite swimmers. Int J Sports Med. 2007 May;28(5):394-400. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-924490. Epub 2006 Nov 16.

  PMID: 17111320 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof. Dr.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 4, 2026
• First Posted: June 11, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2025
• Study Completion: March 1, 2025
• Last Updated: June 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)