Acute Effects of Myofascıal Release Exercıse Periods on Circulatory Parameters in Young Archers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of different myofascial release exercise durations on heart rate, saturation and blood pressure values in young archers. For this purpose, a total of 12 young athletes aged 16-18 years were included in the study. Myofascial release exercises using foam rollers were applied to the participants on different days. The inclusion criteria were determined as being healthy, not having a chronic disease, not having any medication used continuously and being interested in active archery sport. Control (T1), experimental (T2), and experimental (T3) foam rollers for 30 seconds and 60 seconds, respectively, were applied to the young archers on different days and heart rate, SpO2 levels and blood pressure values were measured after the applications. SPSS 22.0 programme was used to analyse the data obtained. One-way analysis of variance and LSD tests for repeated measures were performed to determine the difference between the groups of the application results. As a result of the analysis, no statistical significance was found in the saturation values, diastolic and systolic blood pressure values of the groups (p>0.05). There was statistical significance between T1 and T3 groups in the heart rate in favour of T3 (p<0.05). Myofascial release exercises affected the heart rate in terms of the parameters evaluated in long-term applications. It can be said that this change is a result of the energy and effort expended.

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The Eurasia Proceedings of Health, Environment
and Life Sciences (EPHELS)
ISSN: 2791-8033
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The Eurasia Proceedings of Health, Environment and Life Sciences (EPHELS), 2023
Volume 12, Pages 111-115
ICMeHeS 2023: International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences
Acute Effects of Myofascıal Release Exercıse Periods on Circulatory
Parameters in Young Archers
Zarife Pancar
Gaziantep University
Fikret Alincak
Gaziantep University
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of different myofascial release exercise
durations on heart rate, saturation and blood pressure values in young archers. For this purpose, a total of 12
young athletes aged 16-18 years were included in the study. Myofascial release exercises using foam rollers
were applied to the participants on different days. The inclusion criteria were determined as being healthy, not
having a chronic disease, not having any medication used continuously and being interested in active archery
sport. Control (T1), experimental (T2), and experimental (T3) foam rollers for 30 seconds and 60 seconds,
respectively, were applied to the young archers on different days and heart rate, SpO2 levels and blood pressure
values were measured after the applications. SPSS 22.0 programme was used to analyse the data obtained. One-
way analysis of variance and LSD tests for repeated measures were performed to determine the difference
between the groups of the application results. As a result of the analysis, no statistical significance was found in
the saturation values, diastolic and systolic blood pressure values of the groups (p>0.05). There was statistical
significance between T1 and T3 groups in the heart rate in favour of T3 (p<0.05). Myofascial release exercises
affected the heart rate in terms of the parameters evaluated in long-term applications. It can be said that this
change is a result of the energy and effort expended.
Keywords: Blood pressure, Exercise, Relaxation, Archery
Introduction
Archery stands out as a sport branch that has attracted the attention of mankind throughout history and has
achieved great success today. This ancient sport attracts the attention of sports enthusiasts around the world with
its advanced performance and technical skills, and also allows athletes to demonstrate their high level of
physical and mental abilities. The essence of archery is a performance based on shooting arrows with high
accuracy at a specified target within a limited time. This sport has a static character and requires intense strength
and endurance of the upper body muscles. Archery includes the actions of traction technique, aiming and release
techniques applied to the shooter in certain phases. The shooter carries the bow with the tense shooting arm with
the muscles that keep the body posture stable during the shot and completes the movement by pulling the
bowstring dynamically with the traction arm. After this moment, with the sound of the clicker, the archer
completes and finishes the shot by releasing the bowstring (Behm et al.,2004; Fletcher & Jones, 2004; Fletcher
& Anness, 2007; Gelen, 2017; Yonal & Turkmen, 2017; Aktepe, 2012).
This sport has a challenging process for top level athletes. Elite level archers have to maintain strong muscles
and well-balanced upper body stability in this phase, which includes static and dynamic contractions. This
process pushes the athletes to their limits, both physically and mentally, and encourages them to reach their best
performance. In conclusion, archery, as both an ancient and contemporary sport, offers an experience that
requires a combination of discipline, focus and technical skills. This sport has been recognised as a traditional

International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences (ICMeHeS), November 16-19, 2023, Antalya/Turkey
112
art throughout history and has maintained its value as a part of modern sport (Behm et al.,2004; Fletcher &
Jones , 2004).
The warm-up process usually starts with aerobic running of increasing intensity starting at moderate levels.
After moderate intensity, athletes move on to static stretching exercises. However, a number of studies have
shown that warm-up movements at this level may negatively affect performance by decreasing the power, speed
and force production of static and dynamic stretching exercises performed before, after training, before or after
competition (Behm et al., 2004; Fletcher & Jones 2004). On the other hand, some researchers have reported that
voluntary stimuli applied from moderate to high intensity, such as dynamic warm-up before sportive activity,
may increase strength and performance by activating nerve-muscle function (Behm et al., 2006; Burkett et al.,
2005; Fletcher & Anness, 2007; Gelen, 2017; Unlu et al., 2023). In the light of these data, the aim of this study
was to investigate the acute effects of different myofascial release exercise durations on heart rate, oxygen
saturation and blood pressure values in young archers.
Method
Participants and Study Design
Individuals who regularly participated in a private archery centre and attended training three days a week were
included in the study. A total of 12 healthy male individuals between the ages of 16-18 years, who have been
actively interested in archery for the last two years, were included in the study in accordance with the study
criteria. The study criteria included being interested in archery for at least two years, participating in regular
training, having no chronic disease, and not using any supplement or doping substance in the last six months.
The researcher visited the subjects at their archery centres four times during the study period. In order to
eliminate possible conditions such as physiological, neurophysiological and fatigue, the research protocol was
applied to the subjects for three days with a 48-hour break. During the first visit, the participants were given a
general information about the study and orientation sessions on the use of materials (foam rollers). In the second
visit, age, height and weight measurements were taken and heart rate, saturation and blood pressure
measurements were performed as a control practice. In the third visit, in addition to the control application, a 30-
second session of myofascial muscle relaxation exercise with foam rollers was applied and measurements were
taken. In the fourth and last visit, a 60-second session of myofascial muscle relaxation exercise with foam
rollers was applied in addition to the control application and measurements were taken. To minimise the
possible effects of circadian rhythm, all treatments were performed at the same time.
Implementation Procedure
All athletes were subjected to a general warm-up procedure before starting training and activities. The purpose
of this warm-up was to prepare the body for physical activity, to flex the muscles and to improve performance.
In this general warm-up phase, the athletes performed a 5-minute jog run, which raised their energy levels and
increased their heart rate. Then, they performed 5 minutes of stretching and stretching movements to prepare
their bodies for more mobility. These steps include measures to reduce the risk of possible injury by increasing
the flexibility of the muscles. After the completion of the general warm-up, a special warm-up protocol was
applied specifically for certain body parts. This protocol for upper and lower extremities aimed to maximise the
athlete's preparation for certain movements by pre-activating the muscle groups to be used. In this way, it was
aimed for the athletes to optimise their performance and benefit from the training in the best way (Unlu et al.,
2023). In the control application, saturation measurements of the athletes were taken in resting and sitting
position after general warm-up. Then, heart rate and blood pressure values were measured twice according to a
specific test protocol. These controls aimed to carefully evaluate the general health status and physiological
responses of the athletes.
Foam Roller Procedure
The foam roller exercises used in the research were preferred by focusing on various parts of the body, upper
and lower extremities, posterior and anterior muscle groups in a way that the subjects could apply on their own.
The participants applied rolling movements to the selected muscle groups using the foam roller and completed
the movement by passing each muscle area from the starting point to the end point. The movement flow
determined for each muscle group continued for 30 seconds and then a 20-second transition time was provided

International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences (ICMeHeS), November 16-19, 2023, Antalya/Turkey
113
to switch to another muscle group (Healey et al., 2014; Unlu et al., 2023). In this way, while each foam roller
exercise continued for a certain period of time, the transition time between muscle groups was also provided in a
certain order.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed using the SPSS 22.0 package programme (SPSS for
Windows, version 22.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). The analyses presented are expressed as means and
standard deviations. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess whether the data were normally distributed. One-
way analysis of variance was applied to understand the distribution of the difference between repeated
measurement data. LSD correction test statistic was used to determine the difference analyses between the
treatments. Statistical significance levels were accepted as p<0.05. This value indicates that the results obtained
are statistically significant.
Results and Discussion
This study aims to investigate the acute effects of myofascial release exercises using foam rollers. The study
was conducted on a total of 12 volunteer athletes who participated in regular training with archery. Myofascial
relaxation exercises were applied to the participants with different foam roller application times, and the effects
of these exercises on heart rate, blood pressure and saturation levels were evaluated in detail. The data obtained
during the research process were supported by tables and graphs, which are visual expression tools, and
presented to the readers in a clear and understandable way.
Table 1. Presentation of the values of SPO2 levels
Mean.±S.D
F
p
T1
96.33±0.89
1.222
0.309
T2
96.50±2.11
T3
95.67±1.72
Applications: T1. control treatment T2. experimental treatment 30 seconds T3. experimental treatment
60 seconds, *p<0.05
Table 2. Statistical analysis of heart rate
Mean±S.D
F
p
Anlamlı Fark
T1
78.50±10.26
4.941
0.026*
T1-T3
T2
89.00±18.35
T3
90.42±9.41
Applications: T1. control treatment T2. experimental treatment 30 seconds T3. experimental treatment
60 seconds, *p<0.05
Table 3. Statistical analysis of systolic pressure values
Mean±S.D
F
p
T1
11.50±0.67
0.478
0.585
T2
11.50±1.24
T3
11.83±1.03
Applications: T1. control treatment T2. experimental treatment 30 seconds T3. experimental treatment
60 seconds, *p<0.05
Table 4. Statistical analysis of diastolic pressure values
Mean.±S.D
F
p
T1
7.50±0.67
0.865
0.421
T2
7.42±0.67
T3
7.25±0.45
Applications: T1. control treatment T2. experimental treatment 30 seconds T3. experimental treatment
60 seconds, *p<0.05
Conclusion
This study aims to evaluate the effects of various myofascial relaxation exercise durations performed with foam
rollers used in archery sport on saturation, blood pressure and heart rate levels. The study was planned in

International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences (ICMeHeS), November 16-19, 2023, Antalya/Turkey
114
accordance with a controlled crossover experiment design. A total of 12 healthy male subjects between the ages
of 18-20 years, who have been actively interested in archery for the last two years and who met the study
criteria, participated in the study. The subjects were firstly subjected to the control exercise, then to the
experimental exercise with foam rollers for 30 seconds and finally to the experimental exercise with foam
rollers for 60 seconds. Afterwards, saturation, blood pressure and heart rate levels were measured and a detailed
report was made. The main aim of this study was to determine the effects of different durations of myofascial
release exercises with foam rollers, which are widely used in archers, on physiological parameters. Controlled
crossover experimental design allows for more effective analysis of the data obtained and reliable interpretation
of the results. In this context, it is of great importance to evaluate such exercises based on a scientific basis in
order to optimise the performance of athletes and improve their post-training recovery processes.
In the results of the study, significance was found at p<0.05 level between control and experimental treatments
in heart rate. No significance was found between the treatments in saturation and blood pressure values.
Keeping the performance at a consistently high level in branches such as archery is a necessity that requires
athletes to make intense efforts, to plan their training carefully and to be ready in every aspect. Competing in
this sport tests not only physical abilities but also mental strength to a great extent. Athletes require great focus
and discipline at every stage, from setting goals, starting training and performing in competitions. Therefore, an
increased heart rate can be associated with this.
Nowadays, athletes have to constantly review their training strategies in order to maintain a high level of
performance and outperform their competitors. This includes assessing various factors to increase their physical
endurance, improve their technical skills and maintain their mental toughness. Training programmes should be
customised to suit the individual needs of the athlete, as each athlete has a different performance potential and
strengths/deficiencies. Especially in disciplines such as archery, focusing on the target and achieving a perfect
shot requires athletes to constantly surpass themselves. This involves a constant endeavour to gain an edge over
other athletes in competition. Competing against equally prepared opponents, getting better with each shot and
constantly improving by trying different techniques are critical elements for success in the competitive world of
archery (Healey et al., 2014; McGowan et al., 2015; Unlu et al., 2023; Yonal &Türkmen, 2017; Aktepe, 2012).
The use of foam rollers or foam roller applications in sports is recommended as an alternative method, which
brings with it various advantages. The effects of these applications, such as reducing muscle soreness, delaying
muscle fatigue, increasing joint range of motion and providing economy of movement, have the potential to
improve the overall performance of athletes. Understanding how these advantages can be used in different
sports can help to create optimised training programmes specific to the athlete's needs and discipline. In this
context, research to understand how young athletes and amateur athletes can benefit from such applications can
shed light on the creation of effective training strategies that appeal to a wide audience in sports. In addition,
long-term evaluations of the performance-enhancing effects of foam roller applications may contribute to the
determination of more effective training protocols for the long-term success of athletes (Chetham et al., 2015;
Lim & Park, 2019; Unlu et al., 2023) . When we review the researches in the literature, we observe that foam
roller applications are recommended for their ability to increase muscle function, optimise muscular efficiency,
strengthen muscle strength, increase range of motion and improve flexibility. When this technique is used, it is
thought that the friction caused by the rotational movement of the roller and the resulting increase in
intramuscular heat contribute to improve the fluidity in the applied area. The results of the study show
significance in all parameters evaluated. Therefore, we can say that acute foam roller exercises positively affect
the performance of archers.
Recommendations
Conducting various applications in different sports branches can make a significant contribution to the scientific
literature. At this point, studies on athletes of different age groups and genders can further enrich the knowledge
base by enabling the data to be obtained to be spread over a wide perspective. In particular, studies focusing on
the performances of female athletes in different disciplines can contribute to the understanding of gender-based
differences in the field of sport.
Scientific Ethics Declaration
The authors declare that the scientific ethical and legal responsibility of this article published in EPHELS
journal belongs to the authors.

International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences (ICMeHeS), November 16-19, 2023, Antalya/Turkey
115
Acknowledgements or Notes
* This article was presented as an oral presentation at the International Conference on Medical and Health
Sciences (www.icmehes.net) held in Antalya/Turkey on November 16-19, 2023.
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Author Information
Zarife Pancar
Gaziantep University, Faculty of Sport Sciences,
Department of Physical Education and Sports Teaching
Gaziantep/Türkiye
Contact e-mail: z_pancar@hotmail.com
Fikret Alincak
Gaziantep University, Faculty of Sport Sciences,
Department of Coaching Education
Gaziantep/Türkiye
To cite this article:
Pancar, Z., & Alincak, F. (2023). Acute effects of myofascial release exercise periods on circulatory parameters
in young archers. The Eurasia Proceedings of Health, Environment and Life Sciences (EPHELS), 12, Page 111-
115.