Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Stress and Bowling Skills in Medium Fast Bowlers

NCT07731464 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 63878
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 4

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a 4-week Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) protocol can manage psychological stress and improve performance in male cricket medium-fast bowlers aged 16-30 years. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Does a 4-week PMR protocol significantly reduce perceived stress scores compared to standard training?
2. 2.Does a 4-week PMR protocol significantly improve ball release speed and bowling accuracy? Researchers will compare an experimental group receiving a structured PMR protocol prior to warm-ups to a control group following standard traditional training (generalized warm-ups, stretching, and shadow bowling) to see if the relaxation intervention leads to lower perceived stress, higher bowling speed, and improved bowling accuracy.
3. 3.Complete the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at baseline and after the 4-week period.
4. 4.Deliver six balls at a designated target pitch and stump zone while being timed by a hand-held radar gun to measure baseline and post-intervention speed and accuracy.
5. 5.Depending on group assignment, either attend 2 sessions per week of a structured, contract-relax progressive muscle relaxation protocol or attend 2 sessions per week of traditional warm-up and stretching drills.

Conditions

Relaxation Therapy; Stress, Psychological; Athletic Performance; Anxiety; Muscle Tonus; Sports Medicine; Randomized Controlled Trial

Keywords

Progressive Muscle Relaxation; Perceived Stress; Bowling Speed; Bowling Accuracy; Medium-Fast Bowlers; Cricket; Competitive Anxiety; Sports Psychology

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Perceived Stress Score

  Evaluated using the validated 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The instrument utilizes a 5-point Likert scale (0-4) to evaluate perceived unpredictability, overload, and lack of somatic control. Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores denoting a greater psychological stress profile.

  Baseline and the end of Week 4.

• Change in Ball Release Speed

  The maximum instantaneous velocity of the ball at release, quantified in kilometers per hour (km/h). This is measured objectively using a hand-held Stalker ATS radar gun positioned directly behind the bowler or parallel to the ball's trajectory while the participant bowls standard 156g Kookaburra cricket balls.

  Baseline and the end of Week 4

• Change in Bowling Accuracy Score

  Evaluated using a categorical target-based field configuration. Participants bowl six deliveries aimed at two specific zones: a flat good-length pitch zone (2m width, placed 4-6m in front of the batting crease) and a vertical stump target sheet (35cm x 100cm). Each delivery is scored on a 0-2 scale: 0 for missing both, 1 for hitting one zone, and 2 for successfully hitting both zones

  Baseline and the end of Week 4

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group (PMR)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive a structured, 4-week Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) protocol conducted twice a week prior to standard training sessions. The intervention involves systematic contract-relax muscle sequences moving from distal to proximal muscle groups.

Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR); Behavioral: Traditional Training / Active Comparator

Control Group (Traditional Training)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants undergo standard traditional athletic training twice a week for 4 weeks. This includes generalized active warm-ups, dynamic and static stretching, and shadow bowling drills to match the training volume of the experimental group.

Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR); Behavioral: Traditional Training / Active Comparator

Interventions

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) BEHAVIORAL

Participants complete a structured, 4-week Progressive Muscle Relaxation protocol consisting of 2 sessions per week, administered in a quiet environment prior to routine athletic warm-ups.

Control Group (Traditional Training); Experimental Group (PMR)

Traditional Training / Active Comparator BEHAVIORAL

A 4-week standard active training block consisting of low-intensity jogging, dynamic and static stretching, and shadow bowling drills.

Control Group (Traditional Training); Experimental Group (PMR)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: The trial explicitly restricted eligibility to male cricket medium-fast bowlers between the ages of 18 and 25 to control for gender-specific physiological differences in muscle mass, baseline ball-release speeds, and biomechanical patterns.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Must be a male cricket medium-fast bowler.
• Must be between 18 and 25 years of age.
• Must be an active club-level player with a minimum of 2 years of competitive playing experience.
• Must be physically healthy, fit, and currently active in regular training.

You may not qualify if:

• Recent Injuries: Any history of recent lower-limb or upper-limb orthopedic injuries, acute musculoskeletal trauma, or surgeries within the past 6 months.
• Any history of underlying neurological disorders or clinical psychological conditions that could independently alter motor coordination or stress perception.
• Currently undergoing or having recently undergone any structured psychological therapies, systematic relaxation training, or counseling programs.
• Any current chronic systemic diseases or medical issues that would prevent safe participation in standard athletic field training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (4)

Asif Memorial Cricket Club

Islamabad, Federal, Pakistan

Location

Hassan Memorial Cricket Club

Islamabad, Federal, Pakistan

Location

Millat Cricket Club

Islamabad, Federal, Pakistan

Location

Muslim Cricket Club

Islamabad, Federal, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Autogenic Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hypnosis; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The data investigator responsible for recording the outcome measures including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), radar gun speed tracking, and target-zone accuracy scoring was kept entirely unaware of which group the participants were assigned to throughout the duration of the trial to eliminate measurement bias.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Lecturer

Model Details: Type of Design: Two-arm, parallel-group, single-blinded randomized clinical trial (RCT). Blinding/Masking Architecture: Single-blinded design, where the data assessor responsible for measuring the outcome variables (perceived stress, radar-measured ball speed, and target-zone bowling accuracy) was kept completely unaware of the participants' group allocations to prevent observer bias. Allocation Ratio: 1:1 equal allocation, randomizing 20 eligible participants into two balanced groups of 10 players each using a classic coin-toss method. Run-in or Washout Periods: None. Participants were directly randomized into their respective intervention tracks immediately following the collection of baseline (pre-intervention) data.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2026
• First Posted: July 28, 2026
• Study Start: August 16, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 21, 2026
• Study Completion: February 21, 2026
• Last Updated: July 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (4)