Heat Therapy to Accelerate Muscle Recovery

NCT05506514 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: F202202032
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The use of cold on muscle (Ice, Cold Water Immersion - CWI or cryotherapy) is a widespread practice used by health professionals, athletes or non-athletic population in the treatment of muscle soreness and soft tissue injuries. Application of cold on muscle is well known to decrease inflammation and reduce pain perception. However, some studies in humans and animals have reported contrasted effects of cold on muscle regeneration. On the other hand, recent studies in humans suggest that passive heat exposure can impact positively muscle protein synthesis, mitochondrial content and muscle torque in different types of populations. Rodent studies comparing heat and cold modalities following a muscle injury have reported that only repeated heat exposure enhances cross sectional area, accelerate macrophage infiltration in damaged fibers and enhances satellite cells activation which led to a faster muscle regeneration. As such heat therapy may be a promising tool to accelerate recovery after muscle injury. This study will investigate the effect of three distinct thermal interventions (Hot, Cold and Thermoneutral water immersion) on human skeletal muscle regeneration after an eccentric exercise. 36 participants will be distributed in a counterbalanced way into 3 groups being immersed for 15min to 1h per day in either HEAT or COLD or NEUTRAL water for 10 days following eccentric contractions.

Conditions

Muscle Damage

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in muscle strength after 2 days

  Change in maximal knee extensor isometric voluntary force (kg) 2 days after the exercise as compared to baseline

  2 days post exercise

• Change in muscle strength after 4 days

  Change in maximal knee extensor isometric voluntary force (kg) 4 days after the exercise as compared to baseline

  4 days post exercise

• Change in muscle strength after 10 days

  Change in maximal knee extensor isometric voluntary force (kg) 10 days after the exercise as compared to baseline

  10 days post exercise

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in muscle fiber

  5 days post exercise

• Change in muscle fiber

  11 days post exercise

Study Arms (3)

Hot

EXPERIMENTAL

1h per day of water immersion at 42ºC for 11 days

Other: Water immersion

Temperate

SHAM COMPARATOR

30min per day of water immersion at 32ºC for 11 days

Other: Water immersion

Cold

EXPERIMENTAL

15min per day of water immersion at 15ºC for 11 days

Other: Water immersion

Interventions

Water immersion OTHER

Comparison of 3 different water temperatures

Cold; Hot; Temperate

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy
• Adult (18 to 45 yrs)
• Physically active

You may not qualify if:

• Contraindication to physical activity as per the Par-Q questionnaire
• Neural, skin or muscular pathology.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aspetar: lead

Study Sites (1)

Aspetar sport medicine hospital

Doha, Baladīyat ad Dawḩah, 0000, Qatar

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Dablainville V, Mornas A, Normand-Gravier T, Al-Mulla M, Papakostas E, Olory B, Fermin TM, Zampeli F, Nader N, Alhammoud M, Bayne F, Sanchez AMJ, Cardinale M, Candau R, Bernardi H, Racinais S. Muscle regeneration is improved by hot water immersion but unchanged by cold following a simulated musculoskeletal injury in humans. J Physiol. 2025 Dec;603(23):7603-7625. doi: 10.1113/JP287777. Epub 2025 May 28.

  PMID: 40437768 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2022
• First Posted: August 18, 2022
• Study Start: July 14, 2022
• Primary Completion: April 27, 2024
• Study Completion: April 27, 2024
• Last Updated: June 15, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

QA (1)