Acute Effects of Different Types of Foam Roller with Dynamic Stretching on Agility Performance Among University Basketball Players

Koo, Geok Bin (2025) Acute Effects of Different Types of Foam Roller with Dynamic Stretching on Agility Performance Among University Basketball Players. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

Agility performance is critical for basketball players, influencing both offensive and defensive strategies. While foam rolling (FR) combined with dynamic stretching (DS) has shown efficacy in enhancing performance, research comparing different types of FRs with DS in agility remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of smooth surface foam rollers (SSFR) and convex surface foam rollers (CSFR), both combined with dynamic stretching, on agility performance among university basketball players. Utilizing a true experimental, randomized, pretest-posttest comparison group design, the research involved 20 experienced male basketball players aged 18 to 25 years (mean age = 21.15 ± 1.39 years; weight = 69.62 ± 10.13 kg; height = 173.84 ± 8.45 cm). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one using SSFR with DS and the other using CSFR with DS. Participants attended three sessions: familiarization, pretest, and treatment followed by posttest. The paired sample t-test assessed pre- and posttest differences within each group, while the independent sample t-test compared outcomes between groups. The analysis revealed no significant differences in agility performance, with the SSFR group showing a pretest vs. posttest (p = .87) and the CSFR group (p = .79). Comparisons between groups also yielded no significant differences (p = .84, p = .65). Several factors may have influenced these findings, including prolonged warm-up duration, order effects of DS and FR, the specific agility tests used, and the reduced rate of force development (RFD) due to tendon stiffness potentially being reduced after FR. In conclusion, the combination of FR and DS did not yield significant benefits in agility performance among experienced basketball players. Future studies should consider adjusting protocols to explore potential benefits more effectively.