The perception of Maltese national football players towards foam rolling

Abstract

Purpose: Football is known to reduce flexibility in players. Decreased flexibility in the lower extremities may increase the chance of injury. Foam rolling is thought to be one of the several modalities that increases flexibility and prevent injuries without affecting sport performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to shed light on the perception of Maltese National Football Players towards Foam Rolling (FR) since all associated studies reviewed focused on objective measures to identify if FR is beneficial or not. Methodology: A self-designed written questionnaire was the chosen type of data collection tool. The questionnaire was made up of 10 multiple choice and open-ended questions. Data collection was carried out during February and March 2021, and involved 71 respondents from 3 different Football National Teams. This study followed a PICO framework. Results: Following data collection, answers showed that the Maltese National Football players’ perception towards FR was overall positive. Players consider the use of a FR as an integral part of their training sessions. The current study also revealed the need for further studies with regards to FR techniques and the effects of FR on deep structures such as arteries, veins, nerves, lymphatics, and bone. Even though the FR is perceived as an important part of the training regimen, contraindications and potential harmful effects were always overlooked given the lack of literature.