Acute Effects of Patellar Tendon Ultrasound on Countermovement Jump Performance

Acute Effects of Therapeutic Ultrasound Applied to the Patellar Tendon on Countermovement Jump Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of therapeutic ultrasound applied to the patellar tendon on vertical jump performance in healthy university students. Therapeutic ultrasound is widely used in physiotherapy to influence soft tissue properties through thermal and mechanical effects; however, its immediate impact on explosive lower-extremity performance and neuromuscular function remains unclear.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either a therapeutic ultrasound group or a sham ultrasound (placebo) group. In the intervention group, therapeutic ultrasound will be applied to the patellar tendon using a frequency of 1 MHz and an intensity of 1.5 W/cm² in continuous mode for 5 minutes. In the control group, a sham ultrasound procedure will be performed using the same device and duration without delivering therapeutic energy. Both the participants and the outcome assessor will be blinded to group allocation.

Vertical jump performance will be evaluated using the countermovement jump (CMJ) test recorded with the My Jump 2 smartphone application. In addition, quadriceps muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer, and knee joint position sense will be assessed using a joint position reproduction test. All measurements will be conducted before and immediately after the intervention.

This study will provide evidence regarding whether therapeutic ultrasound applied to the patellar tendon can acutely influence explosive performance, muscle strength, and proprioception in healthy individuals.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Muscle Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: therapeutic ultrasound Group

Detailed Description

This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of therapeutic ultrasound applied to the patellar tendon on vertical jump performance, quadriceps muscle strength, and knee joint proprioception in healthy university students. Therapeutic ultrasound is a commonly used physiotherapy intervention that can induce thermal and mechanical effects on soft tissues; however, its immediate impact on explosive lower-extremity performance and neuromuscular function has not been fully established.

A total of healthy participants aged 18-35 years will be recruited and screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either a therapeutic ultrasound group or a sham (placebo) ultrasound group. The intervention group will receive therapeutic ultrasound applied to the patellar tendon at a frequency of 1 MHz, intensity of 1.5 W/cm², in continuous mode for 5 minutes. The sham group will undergo the same procedure without delivery of therapeutic energy. Both participants and the outcome assessor will be blinded to group allocation, ensuring a double-blind design.

Outcome measures will be recorded immediately before and within one minute after the intervention. Vertical jump performance will be assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ) recorded with the My Jump 2 smartphone application. Quadriceps muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer, and knee joint position sense will be evaluated using a joint position reproduction test. Participants will perform three trials for each measure, with 60-second rest intervals between trials, and the best value will be used for analysis. Familiarization trials will be conducted prior to testing to minimize learning effects.

This study will provide evidence on whether therapeutic ultrasound applied to the patellar tendon can acutely influence explosive performance, quadriceps strength, and proprioception in healthy individuals, which may inform clinical and sports performance applications.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Cengiz TAŞKAYA; Phone Number: 05364811882; Email: c.taskaya@alparslan.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy university students aged 18-35 years
• No history of lower extremity injury or surgery in the past 12 months
• No current musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the lower limbs

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of patellar tendon injury or knee pain
• Contraindications to therapeutic ultrasound (e.g., skin lesions, open wounds at the knee, or implanted electronic devices)
• Any cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal condition that may affect jump performance
• Use of medications that could affect neuromuscular function (e.g., muscle relaxants)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Ultrasound Group; The use of therapeutic ultrasound in healthy individuals	Other: therapeutic ultrasound Group; The use of therapeutic ultrasound on the patellar tendon in healthy individuals.
Sham Comparator: sham Group; Use of sham ultrasound in healthy individuals	Other: therapeutic ultrasound Group; The use of therapeutic ultrasound on the patellar tendon in healthy individuals.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Countermovement Jump Height	Vertical jump performance will be assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ) test recorded with the My Jump 2 smartphone application. Participants will perform three maximal jumps with their hands placed on their hips to eliminate arm swing, and the highest jump height (cm) will be used for analysis.	Immediately before and immediately after the intervention (within 1 minute following the ultrasound or sham ultrasound application)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee Joint Position Sense	Knee joint position sense will be assessed using a joint position reproduction test to evaluate proprioception. Participants will actively reproduce a predetermined knee flexion angle without visual feedback, and the absolute angular error (degrees) between the target and reproduced position will be recorded.	Immediately before and immediately after the intervention
Quadriceps Muscle Strength	Quadriceps muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Participants will perform maximal voluntary isometric knee extension while seated with the knee flexed at 90 degrees. The highest value obtained from three trials will be recorded in kilograms (kg) for analysis.	Immediately before and immediately after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Muş Alparslan University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Burhan TAŞKAYA, Muş Alparslan University; Principal Investigator: Cengiz TAŞKAYA, Muş Alparslan University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 27, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 27, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 27, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Performance; Therapeutic Ultrasound; Patellar Tendon; Countermovement Jump; Acute Effect
• Other Study ID Numbers: Therapeutic Ultrasound

Drug and device information, study documents

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