Investigating the Effects of Different Soft Tissue Mobilizations on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Investigating the Effects of Different Soft Tissue Mobilizations on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Performance in Recreational Athletes: A Single Blinded, Randomized Controlled Study

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is associated with the initiation of a new physical activity or a sudden increase in exercise volume and intensity. DOMS also occurs following eccentric exercises such as ballistic stretching, downhill running, weight training and plyometrics. DOMS might prevent performing sports and decreases the performance of professional or recreational athletes. Recently, different soft tissue mobilization applications (massage, foam roller) have been preferred by many athletes to prevent DOMS. However, there is no study comparing the effects of these techniques on DOMS. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of different soft tissue mobilization practices on DOMS and sportive performance in recreational athletes. In order to achieve this goal, a total of 36 recreational athletes will be included and will be allocated to three groups as foam roller group (n=12), massage group (n=12) and control group (n=12). Demographic data, thermal camera measurements, fatigue level assessments, and performance measurements will be performed. All measurements will be carried out four times as before the application, immediately after the application, after 24 hours and after 48 hours.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Muscle Soreness
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Foam roller application; Other: Massage application

Detailed Description

After being invited to the study, the demographic data of all participants who agreed to participate in the study will be recorded on a structured form. Participants will be randomly divided into three groups: Massage application group, Foam Roller application group and Control group. Afterwards, thermal imaging, perceived fatigue and pain level, blood lactate level measurements, and vertical jump assessments will be done for the quadriceps femoris muscle. Then, the fatigue protocol will be applied for the quadriceps femoris muscle and five-minute applications will be made according to the groups in which they are randomly separated. Evaluations made in the first applications will be made immediately after the applications, 24 hours and 48 hours later, as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th measurements. The assessor will not know which group the participants are from.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Umut Ziya Kocak, PhD; Phone Number: +905052284879; Email: umut_z_kocak@hotmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • İzmir, Turkey, 35330
    • Izmir Katip Celebi University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Performing recreational sports at least 1 and at most 3 times a week.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any musculoskeletal, neurological or other serious health problems experienced in the past six months
• Not willing to participate in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Foam roller group; Participants will perform a 100 fall-bounces (5 sets x 20 reps, with two minutes of rest) from a 50 cm high box as the fatigue protocol. All participants will use a five-minute bicycle ergometer to warm up prior to the. Following the fatigue protocol, foam roler will be applied to the participants' quadriceps femoris muscles in a prone position for five minutes.	Other: Foam roller application; Following the fatigue protocol, foam roller application will be applied to the quadriceps femoris muscle for five minutes in the prone position.
Experimental: Massage group; Participants will perform a 100 fall-bounces (5 sets x 20 reps, with two minutes of rest) from a 50 cm high box as the fatigue protocol. All participants will use a five-minute bicycle ergometer to warm up prior to the. Following the fatigue protocol, sports massage will be applied on the quadriceps femoris muscles for five minutes.	Other: Massage application; Following the fatigue protocol, sports massage will be applied to the quadriceps femoris muscle for five minutes.
No Intervention: Control group; Participants will perform a 100 fall-bounces (5 sets x 20 reps, with two minutes of rest) from a 50 cm high box as the fatigue protocol. All participants will use a five-minute bicycle ergometer to warm up prior to the. Following the fatigue protocol, the participants will rest in the long sitting position for 5 minutes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tissue Temperature Change	Tissue temperature change will be assessed by using thermal camera imaging which is a non-invasive method. By determining the temperature differences in the tissues with the thermal camera, it will be determined in which regions the circulation increases or decreases.	Four measurements will be performed as immediately before, immediately after, 24 hours and 48 hours later from fatigue protocol.
Blood Lactate Level Change	Lactate Edge will be used and the lactate levels will be measured from a drop of blood.	Four measurements will be performed as immediately before, immediately after, 24 hours and 48 hours later from fatigue protocol.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Perceived Fatigue and Pain Level Changes	By using a 0-100 millimeter visual analog scale (0: none, 100: maximum), the participants will determine the fatigue and pain levels. Higher scores indicate worse fatigue and pain.	Four measurements will be performed as immediately before, immediately after, 24 hours and 48 hours later from fatigue protocol.
Change in Lower Extremity Anaerobic Performance	Vertical jump test will be used to evaluate the lower extremity anaerobic performance.	Four measurements will be performed as immediately before, immediately after, 24 hours and 48 hours later from fatigue protocol.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Izmir Katip Celebi University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 10, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): March 14, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 27, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 29, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): January 30, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 14, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 13, 2023
• Last Verified: March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness; Soft Tissue Mobilization; Recreational athlete
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain; Myalgia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019-KAE-0372

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No