Isometric Exercise for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Turkey (Türkiye)40 participantsStarted 2025-04-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether isometric exercise can improve recovery following experimentally induced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in healthy young adults.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does isometric exercise reduce pain associated with delayed onset muscle soreness?
* Does isometric exercise improve pressure pain threshold, knee joint range of motion, muscle strength, and recovery following delayed onset muscle soreness?
Researchers will compare participants performing an isometric exercise program with a control group receiving no intervention to determine whether isometric exercise improves recovery after experimentally induced DOMS.
Participants will:
* Undergo a standardized exercise protocol to induce delayed onset muscle soreness.
* Be randomly assigned to either an isometric exercise group or a control group.
* Complete assessments of pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, knee range of motion, muscle strength, and thigh circumference.
* Be evaluated before exercise, immediately after exercise, and on Days 1, 3, and 5 following DOMS induction.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 30 Years
Sex
ALL
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:
* Active athletes competing in University sports teams.
* Age between 18 and 30 years.
* Participation in organized sports training at least three times per week for the previous six months.
* No lower-extremity pain at the time of enrollment.
* Ability to safely perform the exercise protocol used to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
* Willingness to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of lower-extremity musculoskeletal injury within the previous 6 months.
* Previous lower-extremity surgery.
* Current musculoskeletal pain or injury affecting sports participation.
* Neurological, rheumatological, cardiovascular, or systemic disorders affecting physical performance.
* Use of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, or muscle-relaxant medications during the study period.
* Participation in strenuous eccentric exercise within 72 hours prior to baseline testing.
* Use of recovery interventions (e.g., massage, cryotherapy, compression garments, electrical stimulation) during the study period.
* Inability to complete the exercise protocol or follow-up assessments.
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
Pressure Pain Threshold
Timeframe: Baseline, immediately after exercise, Day 1, Day 3, and Day 5 following DOMS induction.
2
Pain Intensity
Timeframe: Baseline, immediately after exercise, Day 1, Day 3, and Day 5 following DOMS induction.