Efficacy of Microcurrent Therapy After Eccentric Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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15 participants will be included in the present study. They will attend two groups of three sessions (i.e. sessions 1-2-3 and sessions 4-5-6) spaced by 3 months: session 1 and 4 (performed a few days before the experimental session): session for participants to get familiarized with the test battery. session 2 and 5: experimental session (the test battery followed by the provocative task, the test battery, the one-hour treatment and the test battery again). session 3 and 6 (performed 2 days later): the test battery. The test battery included flexibility, functional, pressure pain threshold tests. The provocative task was an isokinetic eccentric task for knee flexors and extensors. The treatment was either a microcurrent therapy or a placebo microcurrent therapy.

Detailed Description
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Objective: To study the efficacy of microcurrent to reduce DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) occuring after an eccentric exercise Methods: Experimental protocol Participants will attend two groups of three sessions (i.e. sessions 1-2-3 and sessions 4-5-6) spaced by 3 months: session 1 and 4 (performed a few days before the experimental session): session for participants to get familiarized with the test battery. session 2 and 5: experimental session: the test battery followed by the provocative task, the test battery, the one-hour treatment (real microcurrents at one of the session and placebo microcurrents at the other one) and the test battery again. session 3 and 6 (performed 2 days later): the test battery. Before starting session 2, patients will be randomized into the microcurrent group or the placebo microcurrent group. Three months later, participants will change of group. The Test Battery: it will be conducted by a blind (to the treatment) investigator. It will include knee flexor and extensor flexibility tests, a functional test (unilateral  counter-movement jump ), a pain to measure pain threshold of thigh muscles and an isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) test of knee flexors and extensors. The Provocative task: 40 isokinetic eccentric contractions of knee flexors and extensors. The one-hour Treatment: with the participant lying on an examination table, several electrodes were located over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy was then started. It was stopped after 5 seconds in the Placebo group and after one hour in the real Microcurrent group. The microcurrents were delivered by the machine B-E-St®. Follow-up: in addition to the 48hours follow-up (session 3/6), participants will fill in a pain visual analogue scale each day after the session 2/5.

Official Title
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Efficacy of Microcurrent Therapy After Eccentric Exercise

Conditions
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Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Microcurrent Therapy
* Device: Sham microcurrent therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Asymptomatic subjects Exclusion Criteria: practice of sports >3h per week present pain in the lower limbs history of thigh muscle injuries recent injury (last 3 months) of the lower limbs recent (last 3 months) plyometric exercises or lower limbs strengthening program.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 25 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Sham Comparator: Sham microcurrent therapy<br>The participant is lying on an examination table for one hour; several electrodes are placed over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy is then started but it lasts only for 5 seconds. | Device: Sham microcurrent therapy<br>* Several electrodes are placed over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy is then started but lasts only for five seconds.<br>|
| Experimental: Microcurrent Group<br>The participant is lying on an examination table for one hour; several electrodes are placed over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy is then started. | Device: Microcurrent Therapy<br>* Several electrodes are placed over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy is then started and lasts for one hour.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Intensity of pain (Visual analogue scale) |  | baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up, following days until pain disappears | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flexibility of quadriceps and hamstrings muscles | Flexibility of quadriceps muscle was assessed by means of the Prone Quadriceps Flexibility test. Flexibility of hamstrings was assessed by means of the Straight Leg Raising (SLR) test | baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up | 
| Functional test (Unilateral counter-movement jump) | Unilateral counter-movement jump | baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up | 
| Pain sensibility threshold (Determined by using a dolorimeter) | Determined by using a dolorimeter | baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up | 
| Isometric strength (Maximal voluntary contraction of knee flexor and extensor muscles) | Maximal voluntary contraction of knee flexor and extensor muscles | baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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microcurent, pain, flexibility