# Chronic Self-Myofascial Release in Road Cyclists: Effects on Cardiorespiratory Capacity, Metabolism, and Mechanical Power

## TL;DR

A six-month study found that foam rolling improved metabolic efficiency and mechanical performance in cyclists, though it did not boost cardiorespiratory capacity.

## Contribution

This study provides empirical evidence that chronic foam rolling enhances metabolic and mechanical performance in cyclists.

## Key findings

- Foam rolling significantly reduced lactate slope, indicating improved metabolic kinetics.
- Relative mechanical power at aerobic and anaerobic thresholds improved significantly in the intervention group.
- No significant changes were observed in VO2max or submaximal heart rate.

## Abstract

Background: Foam rolling is a popular self-myofascial release (SMR) technique, yet empirical evidence regarding its long-term impact on cycling endurance remains inconclusive. This study investigated the effects of chronic SMR on cardiorespiratory capacity, metabolic kinetics, and mechanical performance in road cyclists. Methods: We conducted a six-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 32 male recreational cyclists. Both an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG) followed a standardized training protocol. The IG additionally applied a Blackroll® foam roller immediately after cycling training sessions. Outcomes included maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), submaximal heart rate, lactate slope, and relative mechanical power (W/kg) at aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models (LMM), with age included as a fixed-effect covariate to control for baseline imbalances between groups. Effect sizes were determined via marginal and conditional R2. Additionally, model robustness was verified through Shapiro–Wilk tests and Q–Q plots of conditional residuals. Results: No significant effects were observed for VO2max or submaximal heart rate. In contrast the IG demonstrated significant improvements in metabolic kinetics, evidenced by a reduced lactate slope (p = 0.004). Furthermore, foam rolling yielded a statistically significant positive effect on relative mechanical performance at both the aerobic (p = 0.031) and anaerobic (p = 0.007) lactate thresholds. Sensitivity analyses confirmed that these effects were independent of the age difference between groups. Conclusions: Foam rolling did not enhance all endurance-related variables but showed positive effects on metabolic kinetics and mechanical performance. While it did not shift systemic cardiorespiratory limits, SMR appeared to optimize performance through improved metabolic economy and mechanical efficiency, suggesting it is a valuable supplemental tool for recovery and long-term performance maintenance in cycling.