Effects of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage on Neuromuscular Complexity

NCT07565376 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1731/19-12-2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 11
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will examine the effects of exercise-induced muscle damage, induced by eccentric exercise, on torque production, muscle oxygenation, and electromyographic activity of the knee extensors in healthy young men. Eleven participants will perform a sustained submaximal isometric contraction before and 48 hours after a muscle-damaging eccentric exercise protocol. It is anticipated that the eccentric exercise will confirm the presence of muscle damage, by decrease in maximal voluntary isometric torque, increase in muscle soreness, and reduction in pain-free range of motion. The effect of eccentric exercise on the complexity of torque output, which could be reflected by decreased Sample Entropy and increased DFA α, will be indicated by a possible shift toward more predictable and less adaptable motor control patterns. Based on these results, the investigators will know about the effect of eccentric exercise induced muscle damage on neuromuscular efficiency, that is greater neural input could be required to maintain the same mechanical output, as well as increased oxygen consumption in the active muscle.

Conditions

Eccentric Exercise; Muscle Damage

Keywords

muscle damage; complexity; variability; Peak torque; muscle oxygenation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Isokinetic sub maximal exercise

  Isokinetic exercise of 60 seconds using the sub maximal intensity of 50% MVC. The knee joint will be set at 90 degrees and the values will be in Nm.

  From enrollment to the end of the treatment at 48 hours

• Electromyography

  Continuous recording of EMG during the 60 seconds isometric exercise. Patches will be placed in vastus laterals and the recording will be at 100 Hz

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 hours

• Muscle oxygenation

  Muscle oxygenation measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of the knee extensors during the 60 seconds isometric exercise. The main parameters that will be recored are the oxygenated haemoglobin, the deoxygenated haemoglobin, the total haemoglobin and the difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin.

  rom enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 hours

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Delayed onset muscle soreness

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 hours

• Range of Motion

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 hours

• Peak torque output

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 48 hours

Study Arms (1)

Eccentric exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

All the parameters that was assessed 48 hours post isokinetic eccentric exercise

Other: Isokinetic eccentric exercise

Interventions

Isokinetic eccentric exercise OTHER

Isokinetic eccentric exercise consisted of 5 sets of 15 repetitions using the knee extensors. The intensity of the exercise was the maximal voluntary and an interval of 1 minute was applied between sets.

Eccentric exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• No experience of resistance exercise with heavy loads the past 6 months

You may not qualify if:

• History of lower-limb injury
• Taking any medication
• Suffered from any pathological condition
• Participation in a systematic eccentric exercise program during the previous 6 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: lead

Study Sites (1)

School of Physical Education and Sport Science

Athens, Attica, 17234, Greece

Location

Study Officials

• Vassilis Paschalis, Dr.

  National and Kapodistrian Univesity of Athens

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 19, 2026
• First Posted: May 4, 2026
• Study Start: August 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 20, 2026
• Study Completion: March 30, 2026
• Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GR (1)