NCT03540888

Brief Summary

Flexibility, agility and muscle strength are key factors to either win or lose a game. Recently the effect of a new technique, deep transverse friction massage (DTFM), on muscle extensibility, strength and agility and injury occurrence has been examined, as compared to traditional stretching techniques.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
96

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2017

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2017

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 31, 2017

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 31, 2017

Completed
9 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 4, 2018

Completed
26 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 30, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

August 14, 2019

Status Verified

August 1, 2019

Enrollment Period

2 months

First QC Date

May 4, 2018

Last Update Submit

August 12, 2019

Conditions

Keywords

Dynamic StretchingStatic StretchingManual Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Change in flexibility was measured by Straight leg raise test.

    Straight leg raise (SLR) is a widely used outcome measure used to assess the extensibility of the hamstrings muscle. SLR was first applied to all participants across the groups. All football players laid supine and taught to relax during testing. The tested limb was raised by a volunteer therapist with the knee in full extension and the foot in a relaxed position. The other lower limb was stabilized in a neutral hip rotation and full knee extension by another volunteer. The test was stopped once the therapist felt a strong resistance, or when the pelvic rotation was noted. Then, the assessor placed the goniometer over the greater trochanter, with one arm aligning the lateral femoral condyle, and the other arm aligning parallel to the ground, in a direction to the mid-axillary line and recorded the hip angle. The scores were recorded as degrees of range of movement.

    baseline, on the first session; (2) 15 minutes, after the first intervention (acute phase); and (3) after four weeks

  • Change in agility was measured by T-Drill test.

    The T-Drill has been proven to be a highly reliable testing measurement. Footballers were instructed on how to perform the T-Drill and on the test procedures. Then, they were instructed to jog for 2 min to warm-up. The participants performed the T-drill twice and the trial with the best time was taken for analysis by the mean of an alert assessor with a stopwatch. Results were measured in seconds and scores were interpreted as (1) excellent, \< 9.5; (2) good, 9.5-10.5; (3) average, 10.5-11.5; and (4) poor, \> 11.5.

    baseline, on the first session; (2) 15 minutes, after the first intervention (acute phase); and (3) after four weeks

  • Change in Strength was measured by one repetition maximum (1RM) tests

    After a rest time of 5 min, participants were guided to the knee flexors strengthening machine (hamstrings curl machine) for one repetition maximum (1RM) testing. Resistance was placed just proximal to the posterior part of the calcaneus bone. Footballers performed first specific warm-up, consisting of a set of ten repetitions of knee flexion, with a light load. Afterwards, for safety reasons, an estimation of hamstring 1RM was calculated using Brzycki formula \[Weight lifted ÷ (1.0278 - (0.0278 × Number of repetitions)\]. This formula exhibited a relatively low level of bias (1.6 to 0 kg). Maximal voluntary strength was recorded in kilograms.

    baseline, on the first session; (2) 15 minutes, after the first intervention (acute phase); and (3) after four weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in injury occurrence rate

    baseline, after 4 weeks.

Study Arms (3)

Deep Transverse Friction Massage group

EXPERIMENTAL

Deep transverse friction massage group. Participants were taught by one of the examiners how to sit and perform pre-exercise self-massages on their tested leg musculotendinous junction (MTJ). The procedure consisted of applying friction massage by fingertips transversely to the hamstrings tendon, in a sitting position. The tendon was located over four finger widths proximal to the medial and lateral epicondyles of the femur. One examiner carefully monitored how the technique was performed to assure the precision of the application. This massage technique was applied over a duration of 30 seconds.

Other: Deep transverse Friction Massage

Dynamic stretching intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The dynamic stretching intervention was included for its positive effects on agility and muscle strength. Participants in this group, swung their tested leg actively into hip flexion while keeping their knee fully extended and their ankle fully plantar flexed until a stretch was felt in the posterior thigh. This was repeated over 30 seconds and included in the participant's warm-up phase.

Other: Dynamic stretching intervention

Static stretching intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In the static stretching intervention, all participants laid on the floor in a supine position with both feet pointing upwards, with the tested limb in full knee extension and the foot in a relaxed position. The tested limb was moved up passively to a point of slight pain or discomfort at the posterior aspect of the thigh. This technique puts the hamstrings muscle at its greatest possible length. This position should be held for 30 seconds and was performed three times for a total of one minute and 30 seconds, 15 minutes after a match or training. The contralateral leg was stabilized by means of another collaborator in order to prevent compensation by rotation or elevation of the pelvis.

Other: Static stretching intervention

Interventions

The procedure consisted of applying friction massage by fingertips transversely to the hamstrings tendon, in a sitting position. The tendon was located over four finger widths proximal to the medial and lateral epicondyles of the femur

Also known as: DTFM
Deep Transverse Friction Massage group

Participants in this group, swung their tested leg actively into hip flexion while keeping their knee fully extended and their ankle fully plantar flexed until a stretch was felt in the posterior thigh. This was repeated over 30 seconds and included in the participant's warm-up phase.

Dynamic stretching intervention

In the static stretching intervention, all participants laid on the floor in a supine position with both feet pointing upwards, with the tested limb in full knee extension and the foot in a relaxed position. The tested limb was moved up passively to a point of slight pain or discomfort at the posterior aspect of the thigh. This technique puts the hamstrings muscle at its greatest possible length. This position should be held for 30 seconds and was performed three times for a total of one minute and 30 seconds, 15 minutes after a match or training. The contralateral leg was stabilized by means of another collaborator in order to prevent compensation by rotation or elevation of the pelvis.

Static stretching intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Male
  • Football player
  • Physically active (1 to 3 hours of football per week).

You may not qualify if:

  • Under the age of 18 and over 35 years who presented with an injury to the musculoskeletal system.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Lebanese German University

Jounieh, Keserwan, 00961, Lebanon

Location

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: In order to compare the effects of DTFM to static and dynamic stretching techniques, participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups (a) DTFM group, (b) Dynamic stretching group, and (c) Static stretching group, and were followed- up over four weeks period.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Coordinator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 4, 2018

First Posted

May 30, 2018

Study Start

June 1, 2017

Primary Completion

July 31, 2017

Study Completion

July 31, 2017

Last Updated

August 14, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-08

Locations