Clinical trial NCT05892497: Tecarterapy on the Performance of Amateur Athletes.
Official title: Effectiveness of Tecarterapy on the Performance of Amateur Athletes
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Diathermy Plate Burn
Sports Physical Therapy
Lead sponsor: Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-06-07
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Physical therapies based on electrical or electromagnetic stimulation have been used in rehabilitation, in some cases combining electrical therapy with radiofrequency. Specifically, resistive capacitive electrical transfer therapy (CRet) has been used in physical rehabilitation and sports medicine to treat muscle, bone, ligament and tendon injuries. CRet is a non-invasive electrothermal therapy classified as deep thermotherapy, which is based on the application of electrical currents within the radiofrequency range of 300 kHz - 1.2 MHz. While the heat conducted by surface thermotherapy cannot reach the muscle due to the electrical resistance of the tissues, the capacitive-resistive electrical currents in CRet therapy can generate heating of deep muscle tissues, which in turn improves haemoglobin saturation. In Europe, CRet is widely used in various medical rehabilitation processes. The physiological effects of this type of physiotherapy are generated by the application of an electromagnetic field with a frequency of approximately 0.5 MHz to the human body. The effects attributed to this technique include increased deep and superficial blood circulation, vasodilatation, increased temperature, removal of excess fluid and increased cell proliferation.

Some of these reactions, such as increased blood perfusion, are known to be related to the increase in temperature, but others, such as increased cell proliferation, appear to be primarily related to the passage of current.

It is also true that this increase in tissue temperature, generated through the application of the device, is a physical reaction to the passage of current (Joule effect). Although there is already clinical literature supporting this mechanism, the amount of energy and current that must be transferred to obtain the desired temperature rise is unknown. Moreover, the control of these reactions, by adjusting parameters such as absorbed power and electrode position, is still largely based on the empirical experience of therapists .

Recently, new cadaveric publications have been generated, which support the mechanisms of current flow and thermal changes in this situation.

Against this background, in which thermal effects, current passage and symptomatic improvements have been demonstrated in patients with pathology, the possibility that these treatments may improve functional sporting abilities is raised. This hypothesis arises from the fact that current flow and thermal changes have been directly related to viscoelastic changes in capsular and muscle tissue.

To date, there is no study that has assessed whether this therapy generates any change in functional variables related to sports performance in professional athletes.

Detailed description: Physical therapies based on electrical or electromagnetic stimulation have been used in rehabilitation, in some cases combining electrical therapy with radiofrequency. Specifically, resistive capacitive electrical transfer therapy (CRet) has been used in physical rehabilitation and sports medicine to treat muscle, bone, ligament and tendon injuries. CRet is a non-invasive electrothermal therapy classified as deep thermotherapy, which is based on the application of electrical currents within the radiofrequency range of 300 kHz - 1.2 MHz. While the heat conducted by surface thermotherapy cannot reach the muscle due to the electrical resistance of the tissues, the capacitive-resistive electrical currents in CRet therapy can generate heating of deep muscle tissues, which in turn improves haemoglobin saturation. In Europe, CRet is widely used in various medical rehabilitation processes. The physiological effects of this type of physiotherapy are generated by the application of an electromagnetic field with a frequency of approximately 0.5 MHz to the human body. The effects attributed to this technique include increased deep and superficial blood circulation, vasodilatation, increased temperature, removal of excess fluid and increased cell proliferation.

Some of these reactions, such as increased blood perfusion, are known to be related to the increase in temperature, but others, such as increased cell proliferation, appear to be primarily related to the passage of current.

It is also true that this increase in tissue temperature, generated through the application of the device, is a physical reaction to the passage of current (Joule effect). Although there is already clinical literature supporting this mechanism, the amount of energy and current that must be transferred to obtain the desired temperature rise is unknown. Moreover, the control of these reactions, by adjusting parameters such as absorbed power and electrode position, is still largely based on the empirical experience of therapists .

Recently, new cadaveric publications have been generated, which support the mechanisms of current flow and thermal changes in this situation.

Against this background, in which thermal effects, current passage and symptomatic improvements have been demonstrated in patients with pathology, the possibility that these treatments may improve functional sporting abilities is raised. This hypothesis arises from the fact that current flow and thermal changes have been directly related to viscoelastic changes in capsular and muscle tissue.

To date, there is no study that has assessed whether this therapy generates any change in functional variables related to sports performance in professional athletes.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Athletes between 18 and 30 years of age (athletics and field sports such as soccer, basketball, rugby... that may involve sprinting) federated and competing in university or national amateur leagues that perform sprinting and jumping in their sports practice.
* Active participation in regional, national or international competitions.
* Study participants must have signed the informed consent form in order to evaluate their inclusion in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Volunteers who have suffered a sports injury during the last two months or are unable to perform physical activity.
* Not understanding the information provided by the therapist.
* Participate in other research studies.
* Being under a pharmacological medical treatment that may interfere with the measures, such as treatment with anticonvulsants, antidepressants, etc.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in 30 meters sprint (seconds)
timeFrame: Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
measure: Changes in electromyographic activity during sprint (μ/v)
timeFrame: Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Countermovement jump (cm)
timeFrame: Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
measure: Changes in electromyographic activity during countermovement jump (μ/v)
timeFrame: Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
measure: Changes in isometric leg extension (Newtons)
timeFrame: Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
measure: Changes in electromyographic activity during isometric leg extension (μ/v)
timeFrame: Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Sant Cugat Del Vallès
country: Spain
facility: Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
state: Barcelona
Study officials:
References: