Author(s): ARABACI, R.1, CESUR, M.S.2, RODOPLU, C.3, ARABACI, M.1, YAMAC, A.1, Institution: BURSA ULUDAG UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF SPORT SCIENCES, Country: TURKEY, Abstract-ID: 810

INTRODUCTION:
Recovery strategies such as manual massage (MM) and foam rolling (FR) are widely used in elite sports to enhance autonomic regulation and performance recovery. However, their acute effects on heart rate variability (HRV) following high-intensity exercise remain underexplored in handball players. The present study aimed to investigate the acute effects of MM and FR applied after a 20-meter shuttle run test (SRT) on time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters in elite male handball players.
METHODS:
Twelve elite male players from Nilufer Municipality Sports Club, competing in Turkish Super League (mean ± SD; age 19.9 ± 3 years; weight 92.8 ± 11.6 kg; height 186.4 ± 5.9 cm) participated voluntarily. Using a randomized crossover design, athletes completed three sessions: familiarization, FR, and MM. HRV was measured with a Polar V800 monitor at baseline (Pre), immediately after SRT (Post-1), and following 20 minutes of MM or FR applied to the lower extremities (Post-2). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA [2 interventions (MM, FR) × 3 time points (Pre, Post-1, Post-2)].
RESULTS:
Significant differences were observed in RR interval changes across time points in both MM (F = 33.740; η_p^2 = .754) and FR (F = 17.179; η_p^2= .610). SDNN also showed significant changes in MM (F = 6.128; η_p^2 = .358) and FR (F = 3.960; η_p^2 = .610). No significant differences were found for RMSSD in either condition (MM: F = .270; η_p^2 = .024; FR: F = 1.460; η_p^2 = .117). There is a statistically significant difference in the changes of VLF (log) across time points in both the MM (F = 6.190; η_p^2 = .360) and the FR (F = 7.489; η_p^2 = .405). There is also a statistically significant difference in the changes of LF (log) across time points in both the MM (F = 6.128*; η_p^2 = .358) and the FR (F = 3.960*; ηp² = .265). However, there is no statistically significant difference in the changes of HF (log) across time points in both EM (F = 0.270; ηp² = .024) and FR (F = 1.460; η_p^2 = .117).
A significant interaction was observed between the MM and FR conditions for RR intervals, F = 7.460*, η_p^2 = .405, indicating that the temporal changes in RR differed meaningfully between the two interventions. In contrast, no significant MM–FR interaction effects were found for SDNN (F = 0.514, η_p^2 = .045), RMSSD (F = 0.174, η_p^2 = .016), VLF (log) (F = 0.359, ηp² = .032), LF (log) (F = 0.126, η_p^2 = .011), or HF (log) (F = 0.142, η_p^2 = .013), suggesting that these HRV indices did not show differential changes between the two conditions.
CONCLUSION:
Both manual massage and foam rolling applied after 20-m shuttle running test stimulated parasympathetic activation and positively influenced HRV recovery in elite male handball players. However, the positive effects of MM and FR on HRV recovery appear to be similar in magnitude, indicating that both interventions promote comparable improvements in autonomic restoration.
This study was funded by TÜBİTAK.