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NCT Number: NCT07687550

Alterations in Spiking Following Muscle Fatigue in Volleyball Players

This study aims (1)to investigate the effects of repetitive functional overhead movements targeting shoulder and scapular muscles on glenohumeral and scapular kinematics and muscle activation during the arm cocking and acceleration of spiking, and changes in subacromial structures in healthy recreational volleyball players; (2) to compare these fatigue-related changes between athletes with good and poor shoulder motor control.

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Key information

Conditions

Fatigue Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Taipei, 112, Taiwan

Location contact

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

CONTACT

[email protected]

(02)2826-7049

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Between 18 and 35 years old
  • At least 2 consecutive years of volleyball experience
  • Involved in volleyball practice or game for at least 4 hours per week
  • Able to perform a cross-body spike with 3-step

Exclusion criteria

  • A history of major shoulder or spinal injury or surgery
  • Experiencing shoulder pain (VAS ≥ 3/10) in the last 6 months

Treatment and study plan

Upper Extremity Muscle Fatigue Protocol

Behavioral

The subject performed upper extremity D2 diagonal exercise with Thera-band at kneeling position to simulate the arm movement of a volleyball spike. The movement is paced by a metronome at one beat per second, with one movement per beat. If participants could not keep up or become too fatigued, they are allowed to rest for 15 seconds before continuing.

The subject was defined as fatigued, and the fatigue activity was stopped, only when all three of the following cumulative conditions were met:

  • Until the number of repetitions in that set was less than 50% of the repetitions performed in the first set.
  • Using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) on a 6-20 scale, until the subject's RPE was greater than or equal to 15.
  • If this maximum strength showed a decrease of 25% or more compared to the maximum strength measured before the fatigue activity.

Primary outcomes

  1. Degree of the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joint during spiking

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Day 1)

    The kinematics is assessed using an electromagnetic motion tracking system (VIPERTM, Polhemus, USA) to measure the glenohumeral elevation, horizontal abduction/adduction, internal/external rotation, and scapulothoracic retraction/protraction, upward/downward rotation, anterior/posterior tilt during spiking movement. During the test, participants performed 3 times of cross-body spikes, with 15 seconds of rest between each trial.

    Data were collected at the end of the arm cocking (maximal shoulder horizontal abduction) and at ball-contact (maximal footswitch signal), and reported as mean values for each trial. (unit of measure: degree, °)

  2. Activation amplitude of the glenohumeral and periscapular muscles

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Day 1)

    The muscle activation amplitude of the serratus anterior, upper trapezius, lower trapezius, middle deltoid, infraspinatus, and pectoralis major during spiking movement. During the test, participants performed 3 times of cross-body spikes, with 15 seconds of rest between each trial.

    Data were collected in the arm cocking phase (from minimal shoulder elevation to the shoulder maximal horizontal abduction) and the acceleration phase (from maximal shoulder horizontal abduction to the ball-contact), and reported as mean values for each trial. (unit of measure: percentage, %)

  3. Mean power frequency of the glenohumeral and periscapular muscles

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Day 1)

    The mean power frequency of the serratus anterior, upper trapezius, lower trapezius, middle deltoid, infraspinatus, and pectoralis major during spiking movement. During the test, participants performed 3 times of cross-body spikes, with 15 seconds of rest between each trial.

    Data were collected in the arm cocking phase (from minimal shoulder elevation to the shoulder maximal horizontal abduction) and the acceleration phase (from maximal shoulder horizontal abduction to the ball-contact), and reported as mean values for each trial. (unit of measure: hertz, Hz)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Acromio-humeral distance and thickness of supraspinatus tendon thickness during arm elevation

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Day 1)

    The subacromial structures is assessed using a diagnostic ultrasound system (SONIMAGE MX1 Ver. 1.10, Konica Minolta, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) to measure the acromio-humeral distance (AHD, from the lateral inferior edge of the acromion perpendicular to the humerus), supraspinatus tendon thickness (SST, from the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa perpendicular to the humerus), occupation ratio (OR, dividing SST by AHD). During the dynamic evaluation, participants performed 3 times of arm elevation to 90° and returning to the neutral position at scapular plane. During the static evaluation, participants performed 3 times of arm elevation to 60° at scapular plane.

    Data of dynamic evaluation is collected at 0° elevation and at the greater tuberosity of the humerus is aligned under the lateral inferior edge of the acromion. Data of static evaluation is collected at 0° elevation and 60° elevation. Data reported as mean values for each trial. (unit of measure: millimeter, mm)

  2. Degree of shoulder elevation at greater tuberosity-acromion alignment during arm elevation

    Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (Day 1)

    The shoulder elevation angle is measured using a application software (Measure, Apple Inc., USA) at at greater tuberosity of humerus under Lateral inferior edge of the acromion, which assess diagnostic ultrasound system (SONIMAGE MX1 Ver. 1.10, Konica Minolta, Inc., Tokyo, Japan), and reported as mean values for each trial. (unit of measure: degree, °).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Chi-Chong Lio

CONTACT

[email protected]

0965101633

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Alterations in Spiking Kinematic, Muscle Activation, and Subacromial Structures Following Muscle Fatigue in Volleyball Players

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 7, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 7, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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