Recovery Kinetics Following a Soccer Training in Middle-aged Males

November 24, 2025 updated by: Ioannis G. Fatouros, University of Thessaly
This study aims at investigating the recovery kinetics of skeletal muscle damage, neuromuscular fatigue and performance following a single soccer trainning session in middle aged males. The participants will perform a soccer training session [A single training session including 60 minutes of warm up, soccer technical exercises and small-sided game] and a cotrol trial (No intervention included, only daily measurements) in randomized, repeated measures, crossover design. Assesesments related to skeletal muscle damage, performance and neuromuscular fatigue will be executed before the training session and daily for four consecutive days after training.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Eleven male middle-aged participants will be included in this study. Participants will be initially informed about the main goals of study as well as the associated risks and benefits and then will provide their signed consent form. At baseline, they will undergo assessment of their anthropometrics (body mass, height, BMI, WHR), body compotition (using DXA), physical contition level (peak oxygen consumption, VO2peak), haemodynamic profile (diastolic and diastolic blood pressure) and daily dietary intake.Thereafter, they will participate in two experimental trials (Control trial and Soccer trial) in a randomized, crossover, repeated measure design: 1) ST (Soccer Trial): Participants in this trial will perform a soccer training session (60 min) consisted of warm-up, technical exercises and small-sided game, CT (Control Trial): Participants in this trial will only execute the evaluations daily in the dependent variables (they will not receive any intervention). Before each trial, the participants will provide a resting blood sample (for the determination of white blood cells, granulocyte cells, monocyte cells, lymphocyte cells, Hemeatocrit, Hemoglobin, red blood cells and platelets, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione and creatine kinase activity) and undergo assessments of their delay onset muscle soreness (DOMS), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of knee extensors and flexors (by isokinetic dynamometer), height and power of countermovement jump (CMJ-using force platform), 10m and 30m sprint time (will be evaluated using light cells). A 7-day wash-out period will apllied between ST and CT. The blood sample will be collected before and 24, 48 and 72 hours post-taining. Also, the evaluation of DOMS, MVIC, sprinting performance, power and jump height (by CMJ) will be evaluated before and 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours post training.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
11

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Athanasios Z Jamurtas, Prof
  • Phone Number: +30 24310 47054
  • Email: ajamurt@pe.uth.gr

Study Locations

  • Greece
      • Trikala, Greece, 42100
        • University o Thessaly, School of Physical Education and Sports Science

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Free of musculoskeletal injuries
  • No use of ergogenic supplements or medication
  • Free of chronic diseases
  • age of 40-60 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Musculoskeletal injury
  • Use of alcohol, caffeine and any type of ergogenic supplements or medication during the course of the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
No Intervention: Control
Participants in this arm will receive no intervention
Experimental: SoccerTraining
Participants in this arm will participate in a soccer training (ST) session for 60 minutes. During the training the participans will execute the warm-up process, the part of soccer technical exercises and they will play a small-side-game.
Other: ST
Participants will perform a soccer training (ST) session for 60 minutes. The training will include the warm-up, soccer technical exercises and a small-side game

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in White blood cell count
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
White blood cell count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Granulocyte cell count
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in White blood cell count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Platelets cell count
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Platelets cell count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Monocyte cell count
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Monocytes cell count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Lymphocyte cell count
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Lymphocyte cell count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in percentage of Hematocrit level
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
The percentage of Hematocrit level will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change Red blood cells count
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Red blood cells count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Hemoglobin level
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Hemoglobin level will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Creatine kinase activity
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Creatine kinase activity will be measured in plasma
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Total antioxidant capacity
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Total antioxidant capacity will be measured in plasma
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in Glutathione concentration in blood
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Glutathione concentration will be measured in red blood cells
At baseline, at 24, 48 and 72 hours after soccer training
Change in countermovement jump height
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
countermovement jump height will be measured using a force platform
At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
Change in Peak power during coutermovement jump test
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
The peak power will be measured using a force platform
At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
Change in isometric peak torque of knee extensors and flexors
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
Isometric peak torque will be assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer
At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
Change in sprint time of 10 m
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
10m sprint time will be assessed using light cells
At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
Change in sprint time of 30 m
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
30m sprint time will be assessed using light cells
At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
Change in delayed onset of muscle soreness
Time Frame: At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training
Muscle soreness will be assessed by palpation of muscle belly and the distal region
At baseline, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after soccer training

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Lean body mass
Time Frame: At baseline
Lean body mass will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry
At baseline
Dietary intake
Time Frame: At baseline
Dietary intake will be assesed over a 7-day period using diet recalls
At baseline
Peak Maximal oxygen consumption (Peak VO2)
Time Frame: At baseline
Peak VO2 will be estimated by open circuit spirometry via breath by breath method
At baseline
Body Mass
Time Frame: At baseline
Body Mass will be measured on a beam balance with stadiometer
At baseline
Body Height
Time Frame: At baseline
Body Height will be measured on a beam balance with stadiometer
At baseline
Body Fat
Time Frame: At baseline
Body Fat will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry
At baseline
Bone mass density
Time Frame: At baseline
Bone mass density will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry
At baseline
Bone mass content
Time Frame: At baseline
Bone mass content will be measured by using Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry
At baseline
Field activity during the soccer training
Time Frame: During the 60 minutes soccer training (ST) session (72 hours after baseline measurements)
The field activity will be continuously monitored during the soccer training using global positioning system (GPS)
During the 60 minutes soccer training (ST) session (72 hours after baseline measurements)
Heart rate during the soccer training
Time Frame: During the 60 minutes soccer training (ST) session (72 hours after baseline measurements)
Heart rate will be continuously monitored during the soccer training using heart rate monitors
During the 60 minutes soccer training (ST) session (72 hours after baseline measurements)
Systolic Blood Pressure
Time Frame: At baseline
Systolic Blood Pressure will be examined using sphygmomanometer
At baseline
Dystolic Blood Pressure
Time Frame: At baseline
Dystolic Blood Pressure will be examined using sphygmomanometer
At baseline
Rest Heart Rate
Time Frame: At baseline
The rest heart rate will be estimated using a heart rate monitor
At baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Thessaly

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Ioannis G Fatouros, Prof, University of Thessaly

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 5, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 26, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 9, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 29, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 6, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 15, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 2, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 24, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • FFH

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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