Effect of Manual Lymphatic Drainage on Muscle Fatigue in Female 11-a-side Football Players

NCT07274033 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UCJCDLMF
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 11
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in accelerating recovery following induced fatigue in female football players. The study integrates objective performance measurements using linear encoders with anthropometric assessments and psychophysiological evaluations. It aims to quantify the impact of MLD on neuromuscular recovery, muscle edema, and perceived fatigue, considering sex-specific physiological factors and the influence of sleep and psychological stress. The findings will contribute to developing non-invasive, individualized recovery strategies to enhance performance and reduce injury risk in women's football.

Conditions

Women

Keywords

Manual Lymphatic Drainage; Football; Women

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Number of repetitions

  Number of repetitions until 20% velocity loss: recorded via linear encoder during guided squat test.

  baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.

• Time to fatigue

  Time to fatigue (seconds): total time from first repetition until velocity drops by 20%.

  baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.

• Velocity profile

  average velocity per repetition, expressed in m/s.

  baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.

• Thigh circumference (cm)

  measured with a non-elastic tape at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper border of the patella, in both legs, pre- and post-intervention.

  baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.

• Perceived fatigue

  assessed using Borg CR-10 scale (0 = no fatigue, 10 = maximum fatigue).

  baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 moinutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.

• Perceived pain (VAS)

  assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain).

  baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.

• Perceived recovery (PRS)

  assessed using the Perceived Recovery Status Scale (PRS), ranging from 0 (no recovery) to 10 (full recovery).

  baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Sleep quality (PSQI)

  baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed

• Emotional state

  baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed

• Sociodemographic Variables

  Baseline

• Dominant leg

  Baseline

• Sports experience (years)

  baseline

Study Arms (1)

Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The study consists of three visits. During the first visit, participants are informed about the study, eligibility criteria are verified, informed consent is obtained, and baseline assessments are conducted using psychophysiological questionnaires and thigh circumference measurements. In the second visit, assessments are repeated and fatigue is induced through guided squats at 50-60% of estimated 1RM, monitored via a linear encoder. Fatigue is defined as a 20% loss in execution velocity. Immediately after fatigue induction, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is applied for 10 minutes (5 minutes per quadriceps), following Emil Vodder's standardized technique. Post-intervention, performance testing and measurements are repeated. The third visit, conducted 15 days later, serves as a follow-up to evaluate sustained effects without further intervention, repeating the fatigue protocol and all assessments.

Other: Manual lymphatic draige

Interventions

Manual lymphatic draige OTHER

This method, part of complex decongestive physiotherapy, involves gentle massage techniques that stimulate lymphatic circulation and venous return. MLD promotes lymph fluid mobilization, increases lymphangiomotor activity, and has positive effects on the immune system. Its application has shown to reduce limb edema, decrease muscle fatigue, and raise pain thresholds. Moreover, the gentle touch during MLD activates cutaneous receptors that influence the parasympathetic nervous system, producing physiological changes such as reduced heart rate, blood pressure modulation, and increased muscle strength.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 20 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female athletes actively participating in 11-a-side football, either federated or official team members.
• Age ≥ 16 years to 20 years old.
• Regular training (≥ 3 sessions per week) or active competition
• No food intake within 3 hours prior to evaluation (to standardize the influence of digestion on performance).
• No acute lower limb injury in the past 3 months.
• Availability to attend all three study visits.
• Signed informed consent; for participants under 18, parental consent is also required.

You may not qualify if:

• History of deep vein thrombosis
• Decompensated heart failure
• Active lower limb infection
• Pregnancy
• Recent lower limb surgery (\< 3 months), or any medical contraindication to receiving manual lymphatic drainage (MLD).
• Failure to comply with the fasting requirement prior to performance testing.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Camilo Jose Cela University: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Camilo José Cela

Madrid, 28691, Spain

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Edurne Úbeda Docasar, Doctor

  University Camilo José Cela

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Edurne Úbeda D'Ocasar, Doctor

CONTACT

+34 8153131; eubeda@ucjc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: One of the members of the research team that will carry out the data analysis is not aware of the intervention that will be performed
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctor Edurne Úbeda D'Ocasar

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 27, 2025
• First Posted: December 10, 2025
• Study Start: November 17, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 28, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2026
• Last Updated: December 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)