Effects of Ginger on Muscle Soreness and Dysfunction Stemming From Downhill Running

NCT03028454 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 934537-3
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of the study is to determine whether five days of ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplementation is effective at reducing muscle soreness and improving muscle function following downhill running. Long-distance running is often associated with acute muscle pain, swelling, and reduced muscle functioning, and consequently, many runners utilize non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). NSAID use is associated with gastrointestinal side-effects such as stomach discomfort, nausea, dyspepsia, asymptomatic ulcers, and symptomatic ulcers that, although rare, can be fatal. Ginger is a botanical compound that is Generally Recognized as Safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Evidence from osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea, and resistance-training models indicate that ginger is effective at reducing general pain and muscle soreness. Therefore, this study will supplement 60 runners with roughly 1.5 g/day of ginger root or a placebo for 2 days prior to, the day of, and 2 days after downhill running. Participants will be evaluated for muscle soreness and function before and after the downhill run.

Conditions

Muscle Soreness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Muscle Soreness Change

  Participants will be asked to mark a slash on a 100 mm line the muscle soreness of their lower extremities, with descriptors of "no soreness'' indicated at 0 and ''unbearably painful" at 100. Participants will rate overall lower-extremity soreness at rest, while performing a stand-to-sit movement, and while running at a moderate pace.

  Two days before a 40-minute downhill run, the day of a 40-minute downhill run, 24 hours after a 40-minute downhill run and the two days after a 40-minute downhill run

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Pain Pressure Threshold Change

  Two days before a 40-minute downhill run, the day of a 40-minute downhill run, and two days after a 40-minute downhill run

• Vertical Jump Test Change

  Two days before a 40-minute downhill run, the day of a 40-minute downhill run, and two days after a 40-minute downhill run

• 1.5-mile Run Change

  Two days before a 40-minute downhill run and two days after a 40-minute downhill run

• Lung Function Change

  Two days before a 40-minute downhill run and two days after a 40-minute downhill run

Study Arms (2)

Ginger Root Capsule

EXPERIMENTAL

Dietary Supplement: Ginger Root

Placebo Capsule

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Interventions

Ginger Root DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Capsules containing 250 mg of ginger root extract standardized to contain at least 5% gingerol compounds, as well as an additional 225 mg of regular ginger root.

Ginger Root Capsule

Placebo DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Capsules containing rice flour powder.

Placebo Capsule

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Be currently running ≥10 miles per week
• Have completed at least one run \>40 minutes over the past month

You may not qualify if:

• Have no allergies to ginger
• Willing to avoid pain-relieving medications for the duration of the study
• Have no history of bleeding disorders nor currently taking blood thinners

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Old Dominion University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Human Performance Laboratory

Norfolk, Virginia, 23529, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myalgia

Interventions

ginger extract

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Exercise Science

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 14, 2017
• First Posted: January 23, 2017
• Study Start: January 1, 2017
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2017
• Study Completion: June 1, 2017
• Last Updated: December 20, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-12

Locations

US (1)