{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T06:50:10Z","timestamp":1776840610700,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"PeerJ","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,30]],"date-time":"2025-10-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761782400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012639","name":"Prince Sultan University","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012639","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Percussion massage (PM) using massage guns has become popular for enhancing flexibility, muscle performance, and recovery, but evidence on its efficacy is mixed. Foam rolling (FR) is another standard modality with similar claims. This study aimed to compare the acute effects of PM and FR on hamstring flexibility, specific muscle performance types (reactive and explosive strength), and muscle fatigue.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A randomized, controlled crossover design was employed with 18 physically active university students. Participants underwent three conditions: PM with Theragun, foam rolling, and a no-activation control (WA), each separated by a 4\u20135 day washout. Flexibility was assessed\n                      <jats:italic>via<\/jats:italic>\n                      the Active Knee Extension (AKE) test. Muscle performance was evaluated using a Single-Leg Reactive Strength Test (SLRST), a leg press explosive strength test, and a 30-s side hop test to assess endurance and fatigue. Statistical analyses included repeated measures ANOVA and non-parametric tests where appropriate.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      PM significantly improved hamstring flexibility, demonstrated by lower AKE angles compared to FR and WA (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.01), while no significant flexibility differences were found between FR and WA. No significant effects of any intervention were observed on reactive strength index, leg press power, or hop test performance. The reliability of the measurements was high (ICC &gt; 0.84).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>PM provides an immediate enhancement in hamstring flexibility superior to FR and no treatment, but none of the interventions acutely improve muscle reactive\/explosive strength or endurance. These findings suggest that PM may be an effective pre-activity tool for improving flexibility. However, it should not be relied upon as an acute performance enhancer for physically active individuals. Further research on long-term and varied protocol effects is recommended.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.7717\/peerj.20304","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,30]],"date-time":"2025-10-30T08:57:07Z","timestamp":1761814627000},"page":"e20304","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Acute effect of percussion and foam roller massage on flexibility, reactive and explosive strength, and muscular endurance in young adult males: a crossover pilot 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