Effectiveness of Physical Therapy for Pain Relief in Footballers With Muscle Injuries: a Prospective Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cryoultrasound therapy versus diathermy in combination with high-intensity laser therapy for pain relief in male professional soccer players with muscle injuries. The main questions it intends to answer are: • Is this combination of treatments effective in these patients in terms of pain relief? Participants will receive a rehabilitation treatment consisting of cryo-ultrasound therapy and high intensity laser. Researchers will compare the group of participants, called the treatment group, with a control group to see if: • Is the combined treatment of cryoultrasound therapy and high intensity laser more effective in these patients than the combination of diathermy and high intensity laser?

Official Title
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Effectiveness of Cryo Plus Ultrasound Therapy Versus Diathermy in Combination With High-intensity Laser Therapy for Pain Relief in Footballers With Muscle Injuries: a Prospective Study

Conditions
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Athletic Injuries, Physical Therapies

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Cryoultrasound therapy plus high-intensity laser therapy
* Other: diathermy plus high-intensity laser therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age 18-21 years; professional footballer in a competitive club; presence of a grade III A muscle lesion, according to the Mueller-Wohlfart classification, confirmed by ultrasound examination and occurring during sports activity at least 5 days before inclusion in the present study; no previous muscle injuries in the last 6 months; signature of the written informed consent for participating in the study. Exclusion Criteria: previous muscle injuries or bone fractures of the lower limbs in the last 6 months; knee instability due to previous rupture of knee ligaments; active neoplastic or infectious diseases; congenital anomalies of the lower limbs.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

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: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Group A<br>Group A will include patients who will receive a rehabilitation treatment consisting of: cryo-ultrasound therapy and high-intensity laser therapy | Other: Cryoultrasound therapy plus high-intensity laser therapy<br>* Group A received a daily rehabilitation treatment lasting 10 sessions for 10 consecutive sessions, consisting of high-intensity laser therapy and cryo-sound therapy.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Group B<br>Group B will include patients who will receive a rehabilitation treatment consisting of: cryo-ultrasound therapy and diathermy | Other: diathermy plus high-intensity laser therapy<br>* Group B received a daily rehabilitation treatment lasting 10 sessions for 10 consecutive sessions, consisting of high-intensity laser therapy and diathermy.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| entity of the pain | numerical rating scale; the total score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more pain. | 2 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| size of the muscle tear | measurement in centimeters by ultrasound. | 2 weeks | 
| frequency of relapses | number of relapses | 3 months after the injury | 
| return to play | number of days | 3 months after the injury |