An investigation of the effect of foam roller exercises performed during the warm-up and cool-down phases of training on certain motoric parameters and technical performance in elite karate practitioners

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF FOAM ROLLER EXERCISES PERFORMED DURING THE WARM-UP AND COOL-DOWN PHASES OF TRAINING ON CERTAIN MOTORIC PARAMETERS AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE IN ELITE KARATE PRACTITIONERS The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of foam roller exercises, one of the current warm-up and cool-down methods applied during the warm-up and cool-down phases of elite karate athletes' training, on certain motor parameters and technical performance. A total of 60 athletes, 30 in the study group and 30 in the control group, were included in the study. These athletes were black belt athletes in the "Cadet - Junior" category licensed by the Reykan Sports Club. The study group performed foam roller exercises during the warm-up and cool-down phases of their karate training 4 days a week for 8 weeks, while the control group followed a traditional warm-up and cool-down protocol 4 days a week for 8 weeks and did not use foam rollers. After providing the necessary information to the athletes who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study before starting the foam roller training, pre-test measurements were taken, and post-test measurements were taken after 8 weeks. Within the scope of certain motor parameters and technical performance measurements, flexibility, joint range of motion, functional movement screening, total recovery quality test, and technical performance test were administered to the athletes. According to the results obtained from the study, a statistically significant difference was observed in all parameters except elbow and knee extension joint range of motion in the pre-test-post-test comparison of the study group's measurements (p<0.001). In the post-test comparisons between the experimental and control groups, statistically significant results in favor of the experimental group were obtained for all parameters except elbow and knee extension joint range of motion (p<0.001). According to these results, it has been concluded that foam roller application during the warm-up and cool-down phases of elite karate athletes' training has a positive effect on their flexibility, range of motion, functional movement screen, total quality of recovery, and technical performance. Keywords: Karate, Foam Roller, Motor Parameters, Technical Performance.