Foam Rolling as a Recovery Tool Following Eccentric Exercise: Potential Mechanisms Underpinning Changes in Jump Performance

Purpose Recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is paramount in sports performance. Foam rolling (FR) has been suggested to improve acute performance, however, the ability to facilitate recovery from eccentric (ECC) exercise remains unclear. Methods Eleven males undertook 6×25 ECC knee extensions to induce muscular damage. Immediately, 24, 48 and 72 h post-training countermovement jump (CMJ), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), pressure-pain threshold (PPT), knee flexion range of motion (ROM) and mid-thigh circumference (MTC) were assessed. Neurophysiological measures included voluntary activation (VA), peak twitch torque (PTT), time to peak twitch (PTTtime) and rate of twitch torque development (RTD). Participants then spent 15 min FR prior to each time point, or control (CON). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and standardised effect sizes (Hedges’ g) ± 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were used to compare FR and CON. Results CMJ was greater for FR compared to CON (P=0.030) at 72 h (8.6%, P=0.004) with moderate effects observed at 48 and 72 h (g=0.54-0.66). PPT was greater with FR (P=0.018) at 48 h only (23.7%, p=0.013), with moderate to large effects noted at all-time points (g=0.55-0.98). No significant differences were reported for MVIC (P=0.777, -5.1 to 4.2%), ROM (P=0.432, 1.6% to 3.5%), VA (P=0.050, 3.6 to 26.2%), PTT (P=0.302, -3.9 to 9.9%), PTTtime (P=0.702, -24.4 to 23.5%), RTD (P=0.864, -16.0 to -1.0%) or MTC (P=0.409, -0.5 to -0.1%) between conditions. Conclusions FR appears to improve jump performance in the later stages of recovery following ECC exercise. This may be in part due to improved pain tolerance, however, mechanical and neurophysiological are not modulated with FR

Impact of an outpatient telestroke clinic on management of rural stroke patients

Objective: Report on feasibility, use and effects on investigations and treatment of a neurologist-supported stroke clinic in rural Australia. Design: Data were collected prospectively for consecutive patients referred to atelehealth stroke clinic from November 2018 to August 2021. Settings, participants and interventions: Patients attended the local hospital, with a rural stroke care coordinator, and were assessed by stroke neurologist over videoconference. Main outcome measures: The following feasibility outcomes on the first appointments were analysed: (1) utility (a) change in medication, (b) request of additional investigations, (c) enrolment/offering clinical trials or d) other; (2) acceptability (attendance rate); and (3) process of care (waiting time to first appointment, distance travelled). Results: During the study period, 173 appointments were made; 125 (73.5%) were first appointments. The median age was 70 [63–79] years, and 69 patients were male. A diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack was made by the neurologist in 106 patients. A change in diagnosis was made in 23 (18.4%) patients. Of the first appointments, 102 (81.6%) resulted in at least one intervention: medication was changed in 67 (53.6%) patients, additional investigations requested in 72 (57.6%), 15 patients (12%) were referred to a clinical trial, and other interventions were made in 23 patients. The overall attendance rate of booked appointments was high. The median waiting time and distance travelled (round-trip) for a first appointment were 38 [24–53] days and 60.8 [25.6–76.6] km respectively. Conclusion: The telestroke clinic was very well attended, and it led to high volume of interventions in rural stroke patients