Tecarterapy on the Performance of Amateur Athletes.
Effectiveness of Tecarterapy on the Performance of Amateur Athletes
1 other identifier
interventional
60
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Physical therapies based on electrical or electromagnetic stimulation have been used in rehabilitation, in some cases combining electrical therapy with radiofrequency. Specifically, resistive capacitive electrical transfer therapy (CRet) has been used in physical rehabilitation and sports medicine to treat muscle, bone, ligament and tendon injuries. CRet is a non-invasive electrothermal therapy classified as deep thermotherapy, which is based on the application of electrical currents within the radiofrequency range of 300 kHz - 1.2 MHz. While the heat conducted by surface thermotherapy cannot reach the muscle due to the electrical resistance of the tissues, the capacitive-resistive electrical currents in CRet therapy can generate heating of deep muscle tissues, which in turn improves haemoglobin saturation. In Europe, CRet is widely used in various medical rehabilitation processes. The physiological effects of this type of physiotherapy are generated by the application of an electromagnetic field with a frequency of approximately 0.5 MHz to the human body. The effects attributed to this technique include increased deep and superficial blood circulation, vasodilatation, increased temperature, removal of excess fluid and increased cell proliferation. Some of these reactions, such as increased blood perfusion, are known to be related to the increase in temperature, but others, such as increased cell proliferation, appear to be primarily related to the passage of current. It is also true that this increase in tissue temperature, generated through the application of the device, is a physical reaction to the passage of current (Joule effect). Although there is already clinical literature supporting this mechanism, the amount of energy and current that must be transferred to obtain the desired temperature rise is unknown. Moreover, the control of these reactions, by adjusting parameters such as absorbed power and electrode position, is still largely based on the empirical experience of therapists . Recently, new cadaveric publications have been generated, which support the mechanisms of current flow and thermal changes in this situation. Against this background, in which thermal effects, current passage and symptomatic improvements have been demonstrated in patients with pathology, the possibility that these treatments may improve functional sporting abilities is raised. This hypothesis arises from the fact that current flow and thermal changes have been directly related to viscoelastic changes in capsular and muscle tissue. To date, there is no study that has assessed whether this therapy generates any change in functional variables related to sports performance in professional athletes.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started Aug 2023
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
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
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 26, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 7, 2023
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
August 1, 2023
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
September 1, 2023
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
September 10, 2023
CompletedJuly 25, 2023
July 1, 2023
1 month
May 26, 2023
July 24, 2023
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (2)
Change in 30 meters sprint (seconds)
Photoelectric cells will be used to measure the time required to complete a 30-meter sprint.
Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Changes in electromyographic activity during sprint (μ/v)
The mean electromyographic activity of the quadriceps musculature during sprint will be measured with The mDurance® system device (mDurance Solutions SL, Granada, Spain).
Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Secondary Outcomes (4)
Countermovement jump (cm)
Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Changes in electromyographic activity during countermovement jump (μ/v)
Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Changes in isometric leg extension (Newtons)
Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Changes in electromyographic activity during isometric leg extension (μ/v)
Baseline(immediately before intervention) and post intervention (immediately after intervention)
Study Arms (2)
Tecartherpay Group
EXPERIMENTALA single 25-minute tecartherapy procedure will be performed in both legs with the T-Plus Wintecare® machine. The configuration of the tecartherapy programme will be in 40 watts resistive mode for each muscle.
Sham group
SHAM COMPARATORThe same procedure of the intervention group will be performed but with the tecartherapy machine without power (sham). The machine will be on but no power will be supplied.
Interventions
The tecartherapy intervention was with a deep diathermy machine applied to the patient's lower extremity for 30 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Athletes between 18 and 30 years of age (athletics and field sports such as soccer, basketball, rugby... that may involve sprinting) federated and competing in university or national amateur leagues that perform sprinting and jumping in their sports practice.
- Active participation in regional, national or international competitions.
You may not qualify if:
- Volunteers who have suffered a sports injury during the last two months or are unable to perform physical activity.
- Not understanding the information provided by the therapist.
- Participate in other research studies.
- Being under a pharmacological medical treatment that may interfere with the measures, such as treatment with anticonvulsants, antidepressants, etc.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, 08195, Spain
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Principal investigator
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 26, 2023
First Posted
June 7, 2023
Study Start
August 1, 2023
Primary Completion
September 1, 2023
Study Completion
September 10, 2023
Last Updated
July 25, 2023
Record last verified: 2023-07