Comparison on the Effect of Foam Roller with and Without Passive Stretching on Calf Tightness in Badminton Players

AIM: The aim of the study is to compare the effect of foam roller with and without passive stretching on calf tightness in badminton players. INTRODUCTION: Badminton is an intense sport that requires fast and sudden movements. A professional player is expected to perform a large number of jumps, lunges and rapid directional changes. Repeated impact from running, lunging and jumping takes the player on the knees and ankle over the time. Jumping and landing over the toes first can automatically injure the calf muscle; this could be due to tightness of calf muscle. The objective of the study is the efficacy of foam roller over passive calf stretching in badminton players. METHODOLOGY: In this comparative study, 50 subjects were taken according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The subjects were divided into two groups i.e. Group A (foam roller with passive stretching) and Group B (foam roller alone). Bubble inclinometer was used to measure the ranges of ankle dorsiflexion. RESULT: The findings of the present study indicated that foam roller with passive stretching had great increase in ankle dorsiflexion ROM than foam roller alone. CONCLUSION: Although both techniques are effective in alleviating range of motion but foam roller when used along with passive stretching is an effective method for increasing the flexibility of calf muscles in badminton players compared to foam roller alone. Thus, giving an effective method for increasing the flexibility of calf muscle for instantly reliving muscle soreness post training and even during competition and thereby enhancing the badminton player’s performance on court. Also preventing the badminton player from injury caused by lack of flexibility of calf muscle.