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NCT Number: NCT06933446

Effect of Myofascial Release on Post-Exercise Recovery in Water Polo Athletes

Objective: To assess the acute effect of a myofascial release protocol applied to the adductor muscles of the thigh on functional, biomechanical, and physiological variables. Methods: This study is a randomized, double-blind, two-arm crossover clinical trial that will analyze male water polo athletes aged 16 to 25 years recruited from a sports training center in the city of Bauru. Data related to the following parameters will be collected for the physical evaluation: functional performance, through the jump test; biomechanical, through maximum isometric torque of hip adductors, electromyography of the hip and gluteus medius muscles; and physiological, through the analysis of serum markers of muscle damage and inflammation, and heart rate variability. After the initial evaluation, the participants will be randomly divided into two groups: intervention group and sham group. Then, all participants will perform a game simulation. After the game, the participants will receive the intervention designated for each group. For the intervention group, a manual therapy protocol will be applied, based on myofascial release in the thigh region that presents trigger points. For the Sham group, a manual technique, called classic massage, will be applied, with superficial pressure, used to reach only subcutaneous tissues, without acting on muscles and fascia. This protocol will be repeated at four different times, always after the games. After a washout week, the participants will change groups and the data collection protocol will be applied again.

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Key information

Conditions

Fatigue Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

16 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universidade do Sagrado Coração

Bauru, São Paulo, 17011-160, Brazil

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Male athletes;
  • Age 16 to 25 years old;
  • Have at least one year of experience in the sport;
  • Perform a training load of at least 10 hours per week in the sport;
  • Participate in at least regional level competitions

Exclusion criteria

  • Have no reports of muscle injury in the thigh in the three months prior to the study,
  • Joint injuries in the hip, such as femoroacetabular impingement or tendinopathies of the tendons of the hip muscles or trochanteric, iliopectineal or ischial bursitis diagnosed by a clinician;
  • Do not present a drop in -performance for more than four weeks that could characterize the occurrence of non-functional overreaching or signs of overtraining syndrome

Treatment and study plan

Myofascial Release

Other

A myofascial release protocol, applied to the thigh muscles in post-effort recovery in water polo athletes.

classic massage

Other

Massagem clássica, com pressão superficial, utilizada para atingir apenas tecidos subcutâneos, sem que haja ação sobre músculos e fáscias

Primary outcomes

  1. Maximum Vertical Jump Test

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

  2. Maximum Voluntary Isometric Torque of the Hip Adductors

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

  3. Electromyography of Adductors, Gluteus Medius and Transversus Abdominis

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

  4. Collection of Serum Markers

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

    The markers: creatine kinase (CK; Units of Measure= U/L), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; Units of Measure= UI/L), myoglobin (Myo; Units of Measure= ng/mL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; Units of Measure= mm/h), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA; Units of Measure= Å) will be considered for analysis of muscle damage markers and will be determined through specific kits and following the manufacturer's instructions.

  5. Heart Rate Variability

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

    Heart rate variability (HRV) will be collected, at rest, through a non-invasive method used to measure cardiac autonomic control, to assess the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and the RR interval will be recorded by a portable heart rate monitor.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Effort Control Variables: Subjective Perception of Exertion and Lactate Threshold

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks

    To estimate the intensity of the exercise, the method proposed by Foster (1998) will be used, which suggests multiplying the subjective perception of exertion (RPE) of the session by the total duration of the training session (sRPE), with the results expressed in arbitrary units (u.a.). To quantify performance during the game, lactate will be collected at the end of each quarter of the game, through blood collections from the earlobe (25 μL) to analyze the peak lactate concentration ([La-]peak) of the effort.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Luis Gustavo Lizi Jorge

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Release of Trigger Points on Functional Capacity, Biomechanical and Physiological Variables in Recovery After Game Simulation in Water Polo Athletes

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 18, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 18, 2025

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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