Statistics may lead us to believe a statement is true. Be careful, and always read the article thoroughly to see if the numbers really add up. Here are some examples of flawed statistics in articles about using foam rollers to recover from running.
Limited sample size
Sometimes an author may make a claim that is not statistically significant. For example, an article from RunningPhysio, claims, "...using the roller increased range of movement as much as static stretching," (Goom, 2012). However, when you take a closer look at the sources cited, you see their sample groups included less than fifteen participants. Since the sample size is so small, the findings cannot be statistically significant.
Another example of limited sample size comes from Runner's World (UK). Their article, Get Heart Smart It's Official: Ultrarunning and Cardiovascular Risks Don't Go Hand in Hand, claims, "A new study* provided fresh evidence of music's ability to elevate performance...The results found that the total distance covered increased significantly when participants listened to preferred music," (Pearson, 2023). Unfortunately, this study only included twenty-five participants, so it is not significant to the general population.
Claims without statistical evidence
This Vogue India article makes a surprising claim, "The act of rolling out those knots of tension in your muscles elevates the mood which increases the level of serotonin in the brain. This leads to a feeling of ease and joy," (Gupta, 2020). However, the articles list no studies or sources to back this claim.
How do you spot misleading information?
Check out the UAGC Library's infographic, SIFT: a tool to evaluate information in a digital world.
References
Goom, T. (2012). Rollin' rollin' rollin', sore hide! - A guide to using a foam roller. RunningPhysio. Retrieved Aug 29, 2023, from https://www.running-physio.com/foamroller/
Gupta, A. (2020, -05-01T10:30:00.000Z). Why foam-rolling before bedtime could be the answer to better sleep. Vogue India. Retrieved Aug 29, 2023, from https://www.vogue.in/wellness/content/why-foam-rolling-before-bedtime-could-be-the-answer-to-better-sleep
Pearson, R. (2023, February). Get heart smart it’s official: Ultrarunning and cardiovascular risks don’t go hand in hand. Runner's World (UK), 15.
