PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS / RESEARCH PAPER
Post-exercise foam rolling as a recovery strategy for performance outcomes in martial arts athletes: a pilot study from Latvian and Polish cohorts
1
RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
2
Faculty of Physical Education and Health, Biała Podlaska, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland
3
Faculty of Health Sciences, John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska, Poland
4
Sports Healthcare Research Center, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
5
Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Submission date: 2026-01-13
Acceptance date: 2026-01-14
Online publication date: 2026-02-03
Publication date: 2026-05-28
Corresponding author
Joanna Baj-Korpak
Faculty of Health Sciences, John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska, Sidorska 95/97, 21-500 Biała Podlaska, Poland
Faculty of Health Sciences, John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska, Sidorska 95/97, 21-500 Biała Podlaska, Poland
Health Prob Civil. 2026;20(2):198-206
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
This pilot study examined the feasibility and preliminary effects of a twoweek post-exercise foam rolling intervention on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and kicking performance (TAIKT) in martial arts athletes.
Material and methods:
Martial arts athletes from Latvia (n=10) and Poland (n=8) were allocated to either a foam rolling or a control condition and completed a two-week intervention while continuing regular training. DOMS and TAIKT were assessed before and after the intervention. Absolute change scores (post-pre) were calculated and compared between groups using parametric or nonparametric tests.
Results:
DOMS decreased following foam rolling in both cohorts (Latvia: U=25, p=0.009; Poland: t(6)=2.80, p=0.03). TAIKT improved significantly after foam rolling (Latvia: t(8)=-6.39, p<0.001; Poland: t(6)=-8.76, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
These findings support the feasibility of post-exercise foam rolling as a recovery strategy in martial arts athletes. However, results should be interpreted cautiously given the pilot design, small sample sizes, and ongoing training during the intervention. Larger, controlled studies are required.
This pilot study examined the feasibility and preliminary effects of a twoweek post-exercise foam rolling intervention on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and kicking performance (TAIKT) in martial arts athletes.
Material and methods:
Martial arts athletes from Latvia (n=10) and Poland (n=8) were allocated to either a foam rolling or a control condition and completed a two-week intervention while continuing regular training. DOMS and TAIKT were assessed before and after the intervention. Absolute change scores (post-pre) were calculated and compared between groups using parametric or nonparametric tests.
Results:
DOMS decreased following foam rolling in both cohorts (Latvia: U=25, p=0.009; Poland: t(6)=2.80, p=0.03). TAIKT improved significantly after foam rolling (Latvia: t(8)=-6.39, p<0.001; Poland: t(6)=-8.76, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
These findings support the feasibility of post-exercise foam rolling as a recovery strategy in martial arts athletes. However, results should be interpreted cautiously given the pilot design, small sample sizes, and ongoing training during the intervention. Larger, controlled studies are required.
REFERENCES (30)
1.
Dakić M, Toskić L, Ilić V, Đurić S, Dopsaj M, Šimenko J. The effects of massage therapy on sport and exercise performance: a systematic review. Sports. 2023; 11(6): 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports....
2.
Mathunjwa ML, Mahlangu S, Haddad M. Evaluating the impact of massage therapy on performance and well-being in taekwondo practitioners: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(5): 742. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
3.
Michalak B, Kopiczko A, Gajda R, Adamczyk JG. Recovery effect of self-myofascial release treatment using different type of a foam rollers. Scientific Reports. 2024; 14: 15762. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598....
4.
Boguszewski D, Krawczyk A, Dębek M, Adamczyk JG. The effects of foam rolling applied to delayedonset muscle soreness of the quadriceps femoris after Tabata training. Biomedical Human Kinetics. 2024; 16(1): 203-209. https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-20....
5.
Corcoran D, Climstein M, Whitting J, Del Vecchio L. Impact force and velocities for kicking strikes in combat sports: a literature review. Sports. 2024; 12(3): 74. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports....
6.
Boobani B, Grants J, Litwiniuk A, Boge I, Glaskova-Kuzmina T. Effect of walking in nature on stress levels and performance of taekwondo athletes in the competition period. Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences. 2024; 34: 17-27. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.300....
7.
Boobani B, Grants J, Boge I, Glaskova-Kuzmina T, Bula-Biteniece I, Jagiello W, et al. Effect of outdoor recreation activity on mental toughness of taekwondo athletes in the competition period. Archives of Budo Science of Martial Arts and Extreme Sports. 2023; 19: 113-121.
8.
Boobani B, Grants J, Glaskova-Kuzmina T, Žīdens J, Litwiniuk A. Effect of green exercise on stress level, mental toughness, and performance of taekwondo athletes. Archives of Budo. 2024; 20: 29-40.
9.
Trybulski R, Roczniok R, Gałęziok K, Matuszczyk F, Bichowska-Pawęska M, Wilk M, et al. Immediate effect of compression contrast therapy on quadriceps femoris muscles’ regeneration in MMA fighters. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(23): 7292. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm132....
10.
Jeknić V, Dopsaj M, Toskić L, Koropanovski N. Muscle contraction adaptations in top-level karate athletes assessed by tensiomyography. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19: 10309. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
11.
Trybulski R, Roczniok R, Olaniszyn G, Svyshch Y, Vovkanych A, Wilk M. Sports massage and blood flow restriction combined with cold therapy accelerate muscle recovery after fatigue in mixed martial arts athletes: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2025; 10(2): 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10....
12.
Gasibat Q, Rafieda AE, Aween MM. The influence of therapeutic massage on muscle recovery, physiological, psychological and performance in sport: a systematic review. Sport Mont. 2024; 22: 147-161. https://doi.org/10.26773/smj.2....
13.
Tayech A, Mejri MA, Chaouachi M, Chaabene H, Hambli M, Brughelli M, et al. Taekwondo anaerobic intermittent kick test: discriminant validity and an update with the gold-standard Wingate test. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2020; 71: 229-242. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-....
14.
Kiyono R, Onuma R, Yasaka K, Sato S, Yahata K, Nakamura M. Effects of a 5-week foam rolling intervention on range of motion and muscle stiffness. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2022; 36: 1890-1895. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.00....
15.
Ferreira-Junior JB, Bottaro M, Vieira A, Siqueira AF, Vieira CA, Durigan JL, et al. One session of partialbody cryotherapy (−110 °C) improves muscle damage recovery. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 2015; 25: e524-e530. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12....
16.
Gan J, Dong G, Xu Y, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Gao Q, et al. Establishing the minimal important difference of the visual analog scale for assessing exercise-induced fatigue. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2025; 17: 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102....
17.
Teteris LE, Saulīte S, Līcis R, Greve M, Boobani B. Application of the Vienna Test System to measure training-induced changes in choice reaction time in U20 fencers: a 12-week training program pilot study. Sports. 2025; 13: 400. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports....
18.
Correa Arbiza BC, Vargas da Silva AM, Santos de Lima K, Rubin Neto LJ, Silva Nunes G, Boemo Jaenisch R, et al. Effect of foam rolling recovery on pain and physical capacity after resistance exercises: a randomized crossover trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2024; 37: 226-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt....
19.
Zhang X, Li X, Wu Z, Li X, Zhang G, Zhang X. Deciphering recovery paradigms: foam rolling’s impact on DOMS and lactate dynamics in elite volleyball athletes. Heliyon. 2024; 10(7): e29180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heli....
20.
Konrad A, Nakamura M, Warneke K, Donti O, Gabriel A. The contralateral effects of foam rolling on range of motion and muscle performance. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2023; 123(6): 1167- 1178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421....
21.
De Oliveira F, Andrade Paz G, Corrêa Neto VG, Alvarenga R, Marques Neto SR, Willardson JM, et al. Effects of different recovery modalities on delayed onset muscle soreness, recovery perceptions, and performance following a bout of high-intensity functional training. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(4): 3461. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
22.
Vatovec R, Grandovec A, Kozinc Z, Voglar M. Effects of foam rolling on hamstrings stiffness in damaged and non-damaged muscle states. Frontiers in Physiology. 2024; 15: 1396361. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.....
23.
Nakamura M, Konrad A, Yasaka K, Kiyono R, Onuma R, Yahata K, et al. The acute effect of foam rolling on eccentrically-induced muscle damage. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(1): 75-79. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph....
24.
Baj-Korpak J, Zaworski K, Stelmach MJ, Lichograj P, Wochna M. Sports activity and changes in physical fitness of Polish children and adolescents: OSF study. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2022; 10: 976943. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2....
25.
Chen CH, Nosaka K, Chen HL, Lin MJ, Tseng KW, Chen TC. Effects of flexibility training on eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2011; 43(3): 491-500. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b....
26.
Jakubovskis G, Zuša A, Solovjova J, Boobani B, Glaskova-Kuzmina T, Grants J, et al. Effects of breathing exercises on young swimmers’ respiratory system parameters and performance. MCB Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics. 2024; 21(1): 1-13. https://doi.org/10.62617/mcb.v....
27.
Boobani B, Grants J, Saulīte S, Jakubovskis G, Zuša A, Bernāns E, et al. Recovery strategies to enhance the performance of Latvian martial arts athletes. Riga: Riga Stradiņš University. 2025. https://doi.org/10.48510/fk2/n....
28.
Boobani B, Grants J, Vazne Ž, Volgemute K, Astafičevs A, Leja R, et al. Preliminary Latvian RESTQ-76 for athletes: a tool for recovery–stress monitoring and health promotion. Sci. 2026; 8(1): 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/sci801....
29.
Litwiniuk A, Grants J, Boobani B, Romero Ramos O, Blach W, Obmiński Z. Seasonal variability of maximal power of upper and lower limbs in ju-jitsu athletes. Arch. Budo. 2024; 20: 304-317.
30.
Boobani B, Kalnina Z, Glaskova-Kuzmina T, Erina L, Liepina I. Utilizing facial emotion analysis with FaceReader to evaluate the effects of outdoor activities on preschoolers’ basic emotions: a pilot study in e-health. Int. J. Online Biomed. Eng. (iJOE). 2025; 21(7): 61-75. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v....
| eISSN: | 2354-0265 |
| ISSN: | 2353-6942 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
