Comparison of the Acute Effects of Foam Roller and Kinesiotape Applications Applied with Dynamic Warm-Up on Performance, Pain, and Fatigue in Soccer Players: Descriptive Study

Objective: Warm-up routines are critical for optimizing athletic performance and reducing injury risk. Preparatory interventions such as foam roller (FR) and Kinesiotape (KT) are increasingly integrated into these routines to enhance flexibility, agility, and fatigue recovery. However, comparative evidence on their acute effects in soccer players remains limited. This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of FR and KT applications, combined with a standardized dynamic warm-up program, on performance parameters, pain, and fatigue in university soccer players. Material and Methods: Eighteen male university soccer players (mean age: 21.11±3.42 years; body mass index: 22.02±1.05 kg/m²) participated in this crossover study. FR and KT applications were performed in conjunction with a standardized dynamic warm-up program. Flexibility, sprint, agility, dynamic reaction time, pain, and fatigue were assessed preand post-intervention. Results: Significant improvements were observed in pain, fatigue, sprint, agility, and hip flexion flexibility in the FR group post-application (p<0.05). In the KT group, significant reductions in pain and fatigue were noted (p<0.05). When comparing the groups post-intervention, the FR group demonstrated significantly better agility and fatigue outcomes (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that FR combined with a dynamic warm-up may benefit agility, hip flexor range of motion, sprint performance, and fatigue reduction. In contrast, KT had more limited effects, with significant improvements observed, particularly in pain and fatigue parameters. While these findings suggest that integrating FR into warm-up routines may enhance training efficiency and athletic performance, further research is needed to confirm its comparative effectiveness.