Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Prevention

NCT07256808 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Pro-2023-75
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 26
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial investigated whether a 10-week heavy resistance training program reduced the incidence of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) in collegiate indoor track and field athletes. Twenty-six athletes from Rowan University were randomly assigned to a treatment group (resistance training plus regular training) or a control group (regular training only). Muscle mechanical properties-including tone, stiffness, elasticity, stress relaxation time, and creep-were measured by MyotonPro device (non-invasive) at baseline, post-intervention, and at the end of the season. A 10-week observational follow-up during the indoor season included weekly MTSS symptom surveys. Differences in MTSS incidence and muscle properties were analyzed between groups.

Conditions

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Subjective Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Symptoms

  Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) Score Survey

  Through the running season -- approximately 11 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Myotonometry Oscillation frequency

  From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

• Myotonometry dynamic stiffness

  From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

• Myotonometry logarithmic decrement

  From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

• Myotonometry mechanical stress relaxation time

  From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

• Myotonometry creep

  From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Resistance Training Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants who received the heavy resistance training intervention in addition to their regular training.

Other: Resistance Training

Regular Training

NO INTERVENTION

Participants who continued their regular training without the additional intervention.

Interventions

Resistance Training OTHER

Participants performed a 10-week resistance training program, completing exercises twice daily for Weeks 1-2 and three times daily for Weeks 3-10, with 5 sessions per week for Weeks 1-7 and 6 sessions per week for Weeks 8-10. The program included exercises such as standing broad jumps, resisted ankle abduction, single-leg eccentric plantar flexion, and ankle rockers. Participants' muscle properties were assessed at the start and end of the intervention, with adherence monitored via remote video confirmation.

Resistance Training Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Collegiate athletes on the Indoor Track and Field team.
• Athletes must participate in at least one of the following:
• m-800m events (including hurdles)
• jumping events (including pole vault)

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects who have a history of musculoskeletal or neurologic conditions
• Who take medications that affect muscle tone
• Who have a body mass index \>30.0 kg/m2 were excluded to screen to prevent adipose tissue from skewing the measurements.
• Any subject with any fractures, sprains, or strains of the lower extremities were excluded.
• Any subject with active MTSS, stress fracture, or other lower leg pathology symptoms at the time the initial survey was administered were excluded.
• Any athlete who does not participate in the 60m-800m events (including hurdles), or who does not participate in jumping events (including pole vault) were excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rowan University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey, 08028, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Interventions

Resistance Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Jennifer A Longo, PhD

  Rowan University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2025
• First Posted: December 1, 2025
• Study Start: September 14, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 14, 2024
• Study Completion: February 14, 2024
• Last Updated: December 1, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)