Clinical trial NCT06433856: Neuromuscular Responses to Recovery Techniques
Official title: Effects of Cold Water Immersion and Percussive Gun Massage on Recovery Measures in Soccer Players
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Muscle Soreness
Keywords: recovery
team sport
cryotherapy
massage guns
Lead sponsor: University of Trieste
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-05-30
Enrollment: 16
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 16
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Cold water immersion (CWI) and percussive massage therapy (PMT) are commonly used re-covery techniques in team sports. In particular, despite its wide use, PMT has been scarcely investigated in the literature, especially regarding neuromuscular measures and in comparison with other techniques. This study aims to evaluate and compare the acute and short-term ef-fects (24 h) of CWI and PMT on muscle strength, contractile properties, and soreness after exercise. A randomized crossover study will be performed on sixteen male soccer players (22 y, 20-27) who participate in three experimental sessions involving high-intensity training and 12-min recovery including CWI (10 °C water), bilateral PMT on the anterior and posterior thigh, or passive resting. Outcomes will be assessed immediately after the exercise protocol, after the recovery intervention, and at 24 h. Isometric knee extension (IKE) and flexion (IKF), and tensiomyography (TMG) will be assessed.Muscle soreness and fatigue will be scored from 0 to 10.

Detailed description: Participants will be invited to participate to a cross-over randomized trial, consisting in 3 experimental sessions at 7 days of distance one from another. During each experimental session, participants will be asked to train for about 45 min at a high-intensity protocol (High-Intensity Intermittent Running, plyometric jumps and isometric chair position). After the exercise, participants will be assessed for neuromuscular function (isometric strength and tensiomyography) as well as perceived soreness and fatigue. Then, in a randomized order, participants will receive three different recovery interventions: cold water immersion, percussive massage, or a passive control condition. After the recovery intervention, outcomes are assessed again, as well as at 24 h. Isometric strength is assessed with a dynamometer during knee extension and knee flexion. Tensiomyography is performed on the thigh muscles, and time to contraction and radial displacement are considered as outcomes. Soreness and fatigue are rated by the participant from 0 to 10.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* being healthy
* training in soccer for more than 3 years and with a training frequency \> 2 times/week

Exclusion Criteria:

* reported time-loss injuries
* using analgesics or other therapies affecting muscle function or pain

Primary outcomes:
measure: Muscle soreness
timeFrame: Within 10 minutes from exercise cessation (Post-Exercise); Within 10 minutes after the intervention (Post-Intervention); 24 hours from the exercise (Post-24 hours)
measure: Muscle fatigue
timeFrame: Within 10 minutes from exercise cessation (Post-Exercise); Within 10 minutes after the intervention (Post-Intervention); 24 hours from the exercise (Post-24 hours)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Isometric muscle strength
timeFrame: Within 10 minutes from exercise cessation (Post-Exercise); Within 10 minutes after the intervention (Post-Intervention); 24 hours from the exercise (Post-24 hours)
measure: Tensiomyography
timeFrame: Within 10 minutes from exercise cessation (Post-Exercise); Within 10 minutes after the intervention (Post-Intervention); 24 hours from the exercise (Post-24 hours)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Trieste
country: Italy
facility: CdL in Fisioterapia
Study officials:
References: