"Recovery Techniques on Pain, Force and Muscle Oxygenation in Athletes: A Crossover Trial" (NCT07387276) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
"Recovery Techniques on Pain, Force and Muscle Oxygenation in Athletes: A Crossover Trial"
20 participantsStarted 2026-06-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of various passive post-exercise recovery techniques on professional athletes. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Do passive recovery modalities significantly improve muscle oxygenation and tissue temperature immediately following high-intensity effort?
Which specific technique is most effective in reducing perceived pain, measured by the pressure pain threshold, and restoring muscle strength?
Researchers will compare six different therapeutic interventions-Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive therapy, manual massage, intermittent negative pressure therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, percussion therapy, and pneumatic pressotherapy-to determine which provides a superior immediate physiological and functional recovery effect.
Participants will:
Perform a high-intensity physical effort designed to induce peripheral fatigue.
Be randomly assigned to receive one of the six recovery protocols.
Undergo objective measurements immediately after the intervention, including near-infrared spectroscopy to assess muscle oxygen saturation, tissue thermography, algometry, and dynamometry.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 35 Years
Sex
MALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
Professional or Semi-professional athletes (specifically basketball players or endurance athletes) with a minimum of 2 years of competitive experience.
Aged between 18 and 35 years.
Healthy individuals with no current musculoskeletal injuries in the lower limbs.
Regular training frequency of at least 4-5 sessions per week.
Signed informed consent to participate in the study and follow the 6-week crossover protocol.
Commitment to maintain similar nutritional and sleep habits throughout the duration of the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
Presence of any acute or chronic injury in the gastrocnemius or Achilles tendon in the last 6 months.
Contraindications for specific therapies:
For Shockwave Therapy: Blood clotting disorders or use of anticoagulants.
For TECAR/Diathermy: Metal implants in the lower limbs or pacemakers.
For Cupping: Acute skin infections or dermatological hypersensitivity.
Consumption of performance-enhancing drugs, anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs), or stimulants that could affect muscle oxygenation (SmO2) or pain perception.
Recent surgery in the lower extremities (within the last year).
Inability to complete the standardized fatigue protocol or attend all 6 intervention sessions.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Muscle Oxygen Saturation (SmO2)
Timeframe: immediately post-effort (fatigue), and immediately post-intervention (recovery).
2
Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)
Timeframe: immediately post-effort (fatigue), and immediately post-intervention (recovery).
3
Maximum Isometric Muscle Strength
Timeframe: immediately post-effort (fatigue), and immediately post-intervention (recovery).