"Recovery Techniques on Pain, Force and Muscle Oxygenation in Athletes: A Crossover Trial"
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), Massage Gun, TECAR Therapy, Manual Massage.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Muscle Soreness, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Athletic Injuries. Basic parameters: 18 years — 35 years · Male.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
"Effects of Multiple Muscle Recovery Techniques on Pain, Force, Temperature, and Muscle Oxygenation in Professional Athletes: A Randomized Crossover Trial"
Overview
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of various passive post-exercise recovery techniques on professional athletes. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do passive recovery modalities significantly improve muscle oxygenation and tissue temperature immediately following high-intensity effort? Which specific technique is most effective in reducing perceived pain, measured by the pressure pain threshold, and restoring muscle strength? Researchers will compare six different therapeutic interventions-Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive therapy, manual massage, intermittent negative pressure therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, percussion therapy, and pneumatic pressotherapy-to determine which provides a superior immediate physiological and functional recovery effect. Participants will: Perform a high-intensity physical effort designed to induce peripheral fatigue. Be randomly assigned to receive one of the six recovery protocols. Undergo objective measurements immediately after the intervention, including near-infrared spectroscopy to assess muscle oxygen saturation, tissue thermography, algometry, and dynamometry.
Detailed description
This project is designed as a randomized, double-blind (outcome assessor and statistician), crossover clinical trial. The study aims to address the critical need for evidence-based recovery strategies in high-demand sports such as basketball, where muscle overload is a primary risk factor for injury.The investigation will focus on the immediate physiological and functional effects of six widely utilized physiotherapy modalities:Capacitive and Resistive Energy Transfer (TECAR) Therapy: Utilized to improve tissue perfusion and modulate inflammatory responses through deep endogenous thermotherapy.Percussive Massage Therapy: Applied via mechanical vibration to reduce muscular stiffness and enhance explosive force restoration.Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): Evaluated for its capacity to enhance muscular microcirculation and accelerate immediate tissue metabolic activity.Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (Pressotherapy): Targeted at reducing perceived pain and the sensation of limb heaviness through mechanical fluid drainage.Intermittent Negative Pressure Therapy (Vacuum Therapy): Investigated for its role in localized blood flow enhancement and pain modulation.Manual Sports Massage: Defined as the traditional manual intervention for reducing perceived muscle soreness and improving soft tissue flexibility.Physiological monitoring will be conducted using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure muscle oxygen saturation ($SmO\_2$) and total hemoglobin, providing direct data on muscle oxidative metabolism. Functional outcomes will be assessed through pressure pain thresholds (PPT) via algometry and maximal isometric strength via dynamometry to determine the effectiveness of each technique in restoring neuromuscular homeostasis.The study will be conducted at the Sierra Varona Physiotherapy Clinic (Toledo, Spain) between February and March 2026..
Interventions
- Device Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)
Application of acoustic pulses to the gastrocnemius muscle to modulate tissue mechanotransduction and improve local microcirculation. - Device Massage Gun
Mechanical vibration applied to the calf muscles to promote myofascial release and neuromuscular recovery through high-frequency percussion. - Device TECAR Therapy
Application of high-frequency electromagnetic energy (diathermy) to the lower limb to induce deep endogenous heat and accelerate metabolic waste removal. - Other Manual Massage
Systematic manipulation of soft tissues using manual techniques (effleurage and petrissage) focused on reducing muscle tension and perceived soreness. - Device cupping
Controlled suction therapy applied to the gastrocnemius to create space between fascial layers and stimulate lymphatic and venous drainage. - Device Pressotherapy
External pneumatic compression through a sequential inflation system to facilitate venous return and reduce lower limb edema post-effort.
Primary outcome measures
- Muscle Oxygen Saturation (SmO2) [Time frame: immediately post-effort (fatigue), and immediately post-intervention (recovery).]
- Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) [Time frame: immediately post-effort (fatigue), and immediately post-intervention (recovery).]
- Maximum Isometric Muscle Strength [Time frame: immediately post-effort (fatigue), and immediately post-intervention (recovery).]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Muscle Surface Temperature [Time frame: immediately post-effort (fatigue), and immediately post-intervention (recovery).]
- Participant Satisfaction and Perceived Recovery [Time frame: 5 minutes after each recovery intervention.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Professional or Semi-professional athletes (specifically basketball players or endurance athletes) with a minimum of 2 years of competitive experience.
Aged between 18 and 35 years.
Healthy individuals with no current musculoskeletal injuries in the lower limbs.
Regular training frequency of at least 4-5 sessions per week.
Signed informed consent to participate in the study and follow the 6-week crossover protocol.
Commitment to maintain similar nutritional and sleep habits throughout the duration of the study.
Exclusion criteria
Presence of any acute or chronic injury in the gastrocnemius or Achilles tendon in the last 6 months.
Contraindications for specific therapies:
For Shockwave Therapy: Blood clotting disorders or use of anticoagulants.
For TECAR/Diathermy: Metal implants in the lower limbs or pacemakers.
For Cupping: Acute skin infections or dermatological hypersensitivity.
Consumption of performance-enhancing drugs, anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs), or stimulants that could affect muscle oxygenation (SmO2) or pain perception.
Recent surgery in the lower extremities (within the last year).
Inability to complete the standardized fatigue protocol or attend all 6 intervention sessions.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07387276 · 22