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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02322489

Efficacy of Microcurrent Therapy After Eccentric Exercise

15 participants will be included in the present study. They will attend two groups of three sessions (i.e. sessions 1-2-3 and sessions 4-5-6) spaced by 3 months:

* session 1 and 4 (performed a few days before the experimental session): session for participants to get familiarized with the test battery. * session 2 and 5: experimental session (the test battery followed by the provocative task, the test battery, the one-hour "treatment" and the test battery again). * session 3 and 6 (performed 2 days later): the test battery.

The test battery included flexibility, functional, pressure pain threshold tests.

The provocative task was an isokinetic eccentric task for knee flexors and extensors.

The treatment was either a microcurrent therapy or a placebo microcurrent therapy.

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Key information

Conditions

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Liege University Hospital Center

Liège, Liege, 4000, Belgium

About this study

Objective:

To study the efficacy of microcurrent to reduce DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) occuring after an eccentric exercise

Methods:

Experimental protocol

Participants will attend two groups of three sessions (i.e. sessions 1-2-3 and sessions 4-5-6) spaced by 3 months:

  • session 1 and 4 (performed a few days before the experimental session): session for participants to get familiarized with the test battery.
  • session 2 and 5: experimental session: the test battery followed by the provocative task, the test battery, the one-hour "treatment" (real microcurrents at one of the session and placebo microcurrents at the other one) and the test battery again.
  • session 3 and 6 (performed 2 days later): the test battery.

Before starting session 2, patients will be randomized into the microcurrent group or the placebo microcurrent group. Three months later, participants will change of group.

The Test Battery: it will be conducted by a blind (to the treatment) investigator. It will include knee flexor and extensor flexibility tests, a functional test (unilateral " counter-movement jump "), a pain to measure pain threshold of thigh muscles and an isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) test of knee flexors and extensors.

The Provocative task: 40 isokinetic eccentric contractions of knee flexors and extensors.

The one-hour Treatment: with the participant lying on an examination table, several electrodes were located over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy was then started. It was stopped after 5 seconds in the "Placebo group" and after one hour in the real "Microcurrent group". The microcurrents were delivered by the machine B-E-St®.

Follow-up: in addition to the 48hours follow-up (session 3/6), participants will fill in a pain visual analogue scale each day after the session 2/5.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Asymptomatic subjects

Exclusion criteria

  • practice of sports >3h per week
  • present pain in the lower limbs
  • history of thigh muscle injuries
  • recent injury (last 3 months) of the lower limbs
  • recent (last 3 months) plyometric exercises or lower limbs strengthening program.

Treatment and study plan

Microcurrent therapy

Device

Several electrodes are placed over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy is then started and lasts for one hour.

Sham microcurrent therapy

Device

Several electrodes are placed over the muscles involved in the provocative task. The microcurrent therapy is then started but lasts only for five seconds.

Primary outcomes

  1. Intensity of pain (Visual analogue scale)

    Time frame: baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up, following days until pain disappears

Secondary outcomes

  1. Flexibility of quadriceps and hamstrings muscles

    Time frame: baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up

    Flexibility of quadriceps muscle was assessed by means of the Prone Quadriceps Flexibility test.

    Flexibility of hamstrings was assessed by means of the Straight Leg Raising (SLR) test

  2. Functional test (Unilateral counter-movement jump)

    Time frame: baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up

    Unilateral counter-movement jump

  3. Pain sensibility threshold (Determined by using a dolorimeter)

    Time frame: baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up

    Determined by using a dolorimeter

  4. Isometric strength (Maximal voluntary contraction of knee flexor and extensor muscles)

    Time frame: baseline, post-provocative task, post-treatment, 48h follow-up

    Maximal voluntary contraction of knee flexor and extensor muscles

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Liege

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Dec 23, 2014
Registry last updated
Jun 9, 2015

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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