Special Issue
Elvis Moura Pereira Costa
Abstract
Myofascial self-liberation (ALM) is a type of myofacial release performed by the individual himself and not by a physician, usually using a tool. The use of foam rollers and other equipment is becoming increasingly popular, both to aid in exercise recovery and to prevent injury. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze the use of ALM in the performance of athletes. For this, a systematic literature review was performed in the PubMed database, using the following descriptors: self myofascial release, foam rolling and athletes performance in the last 5 years. Therefore, it was concluded, with the research that the ALM in college athletes presented positive effects on the range of motion and improvement of the post-exercise pain / fatigue, consequently promoting an increase in the performance by providing a better condition for the next session. , had no direct effect on performance. Another study found that ALM was effective in improving power, agility, strength, and speed compared to dynamic warm-up, but by combining both methods, overall improvements in athletic performance testing were noted. Analyzing the use of rollers just before the long-distance runs, we noticed a performance loss, but its use is recommended before plyometric series. The use of myofascial self-liberation with foam roller implements can improve performance by increasing mobility and metabolite circulation, avoiding post-workout pain and fatigue, thus making it a useful resource in athlete preparation and training.