Capacitive-resistive Electric Transfer Therapy for Recovery From Running Fatigue (UPV/EHU)

University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fatigue; Running

Treatments: Other: Capacitive-resistive electric transfer (Tecar) therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03317041

313-2015

Details and patient eligibility

About

Reducing fatigue and improving the recovery capabilities of runners has gained more interest over the last years. Recently, capacitive-resistive electric transfer (Tecar) therapy is commonly used by physical therapists to help athletes recover from muscle fatigue. However, empiric evidence supporting the benefits of Tecar to recovery is lacking. This study investigated the effects of a Tecar treatment performed shortly after an exhausting training session on both physiological and biomechanical parameters of running.

Full description

In this randomized controlled crossover trial all subjects will perform two test protocols separated by 2 weeks. Each protocol will comprise one exhausting training session (20-min warm-up consisted of 15-min of continuous self-paced running followed by 5-min of fast-finish progression runs increasing speeds (from approximately 60% to 80% of maximal heart rate, participant controlled), 10 x 500 m sprints at 90% of maximal heart rate with a 2-min rest period between bouts and a recovery phase consisting of 10-min of slow jogging). Twenty-four hours after this exhausting training, subjects will perform an incremental running test on a treadmill (Pre-intervention test) where subjects will start at 10 km/h for 6 min after which speed will be increased by 2 km/h every 6 min until a 16 km/h trial is completed. One hour after this test, in one protocol subjects will receive Tecar therapy (Tecar treatment group); in the other group (Control group) participants will rest passively in a sitting position for 30-min period. To evaluate the relevance of the changes induced by Tecar therapy/passive recovery, subjects will repeat the treadmill test 48 hours after the first test in both groups (72 hours after the exhaustive training).

Enrollment: 14 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Recreationally active (current participation in races and a 10-km race time <34.5-min)

Exclusion criteria

• Suffered from any injury within the preceding 4 months.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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14 participants in 2 patient groups

Tecar treatment group

Experimental group

Description:

The capacitive-resistive electric transfer (Tecar) therapy treatment group will receive 45 minutes of Tecar therapy treatment.

Treatment:

Other: Capacitive-resistive electric transfer (Tecar) therapy

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will test passively in a sitting position for 30-min period