Effect of Myofascial Release on Post-Exercise Recovery in Water Polo Athletes

NCT06933446 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 6.711.962
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Objective: To assess the acute effect of a myofascial release protocol applied to the adductor muscles of the thigh on functional, biomechanical, and physiological variables. Methods: This study is a randomized, double-blind, two-arm crossover clinical trial that will analyze male water polo athletes aged 16 to 25 years recruited from a sports training center in the city of Bauru. Data related to the following parameters will be collected for the physical evaluation: functional performance, through the jump test; biomechanical, through maximum isometric torque of hip adductors, electromyography of the hip and gluteus medius muscles; and physiological, through the analysis of serum markers of muscle damage and inflammation, and heart rate variability. After the initial evaluation, the participants will be randomly divided into two groups: intervention group and sham group. Then, all participants will perform a game simulation. After the game, the participants will receive the intervention designated for each group. For the intervention group, a manual therapy protocol will be applied, based on myofascial release in the thigh region that presents trigger points. For the Sham group, a manual technique, called classic massage, will be applied, with superficial pressure, used to reach only subcutaneous tissues, without acting on muscles and fascia. This protocol will be repeated at four different times, always after the games. After a washout week, the participants will change groups and the data collection protocol will be applied again.

Conditions

Fatigue

Keywords

fatigue; physical exertion; post-exercise recovery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Maximum Vertical Jump Test

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

• Maximum Voluntary Isometric Torque of the Hip Adductors

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

• Electromyography of Adductors, Gluteus Medius and Transversus Abdominis

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

• Collection of Serum Markers

  The markers: creatine kinase (CK; Units of Measure= U/L), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; Units of Measure= UI/L), myoglobin (Myo; Units of Measure= ng/mL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; Units of Measure= mm/h), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA; Units of Measure= Å) will be considered for analysis of muscle damage markers and will be determined through specific kits and following the manufacturer's instructions.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

• Heart Rate Variability

  Heart rate variability (HRV) will be collected, at rest, through a non-invasive method used to measure cardiac autonomic control, to assess the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and the RR interval will be recorded by a portable heart rate monitor.

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Effort Control Variables: Subjective Perception of Exertion and Lactate Threshold

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Myofascial Release

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Other: Classic Massage

Classic Massage

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Other: Myofascial Release

Interventions

Myofascial Release OTHER

A myofascial release protocol, applied to the thigh muscles in post-effort recovery in water polo athletes.

Classic Massage

Classic Massage OTHER

Massagem clássica, com pressão superficial, utilizada para atingir apenas tecidos subcutâneos, sem que haja ação sobre músculos e fáscias

Myofascial Release

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 25 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Male athletes, age 16 to 25 years old, have at least one year of experience in the sport
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male athletes;
• Age 16 to 25 years old;
• Have at least one year of experience in the sport;
• Perform a training load of at least 10 hours per week in the sport;
• Participate in at least regional level competitions

You may not qualify if:

• Have no reports of muscle injury in the thigh in the three months prior to the study,
• Joint injuries in the hip, such as femoroacetabular impingement or tendinopathies of the tendons of the hip muscles or trochanteric, iliopectineal or ischial bursitis diagnosed by a clinician;
• Do not present a drop in -performance for more than four weeks that could characterize the occurrence of non-functional overreaching or signs of overtraining syndrome

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Luis Gustavo Lizi Jorge: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidade do Sagrado Coração

Bauru, São Paulo, 17011-160, Brazil

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Interventions

Myofascial Release Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Massage; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Rebeca Gasparoto Carmezin, Acadêmica em Fisioterapia

  Universidade do Sagrado Coração

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physiotherapist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2025
• First Posted: April 18, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

BR (1)