Neuromuscular Eletroestimulation in Torque for Long Distance Recreational Runners
Condition: Torque
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Introduction: The use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in athlete training has
      become an increasingly common feature among competition teams. Among the main benefits of
      NMES are the increase in muscular strength and improvement in athletes' performance. Surveys
      demonstrate the benefits of basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimmers and Olympic lifters
      using NMES, but no studies have been conducted on runners. Objectives: To evaluate the
      effects of 6 weeks of training with NMES, on knee peak torque (PT), ventilatory anaerobic
      threshold, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and running economy in recreational runners.
      Methods: Randomized clinical trial involving 30 long distance runners, being randomly
      distributed in 2 groups of 15 participants each. All individuals will perform isokinetic
      evaluation of the lower limbs and ergospirometry. After these evaluations, all athletes will
      perform the same running training (CT), in addition to the CT the intervention group will
      perform NMES on the knee extensors 3 times a week for 15 minutes.
    

Detailed description: 
      Participants who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to participate in the study
      and, after signing the informed consent form, will perform initial clinical evaluation and
      will be randomized into two groups, being: control group (CG) and intervention group (GI) -
      using the medium-frequency alternating current. Each group will consist of 15 subjects who
      will have as dependent variables, the evaluation of the following items: peak muscle torque,
      analysis of ventilatory anaerobic thresholds, running economy and maximal oxygen consumption.

      The intervention with the NMES will be considered as an independent variable. All groups will
      have the dependent variables evaluated before and after the intervention, which will consist
      of 18 sessions (6 weeks). The NMES training will be performed 3 times a week and will never
      be applied for two consecutive days, as shown in the flowchart All individuals, being they of
      the CG or the GI will perform a running training (TC), between 15 and 40 km per week and will
      be guided how to perform them, and the GI patients will perform a muscle strengthening
      protocol with NMES, which will be carried out in a specific place and prepared for
      intervention, in addition to the TC.
    

Intervention name(s): NMES and Run; Only Run
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): NMESIn this exercise protocol for quadriceps strengthening using NMES, the medium-frequency alternating current (1KHz with 10% of the work cycle) 4 will be used. The total daily training time is 900sec (15min), it is expected to perform 45 contractions per training, with three workouts per week for six weeks.
RUN: It will be allowed to carry out training drills that comprise 15-40Km per week, being allowed a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 training sessions per week, not being able to carry out drills of explosion and during each training must be covered at least 5km and at most 15km. These limitations were based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) cardiorespiratory training guidelines to minimize confounders of cardiopulmonary performance.; RUN: It will be allowed to carry out training drills that comprise 15-40Km per week, being allowed a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 training sessions per week, not being able to carry out drills of explosion and during each training must be covered at least 5km and at most 15km. These limitations were based on the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) cardiorespiratory training guidelines to minimize confounders of cardiopulmonary performance.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: The runners will be randomized into two groups, being: control group (CG) - will perform only run and intervention group (GI) - using the medium-frequency alternating current and run.
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Neuromuscular Eletrical Stimulation; Torque; Runners