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NCT Number: NCT06938984

Human TECAR on Exercise Preconditioning and Post-exercise Recovery

TECAR therapy (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) is a type of diathermy that uses radiant energy to generate endogenous heat. However, to the date there are no studies investigating the effects of TECAR therapy on exercise preconditioning and post-exercise recovery in humans. Therefore, the aim of this project is to assess the effects of different treatment protocols of TECAR therapy on. exercise preconditioning and post-exercise recovery in humans

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Key information

Conditions

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Laboratory of Phototherapy and Innovative Technologies in Health

São Paulo, 01504-001, Brazil

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Heliodora Casalechi, Ph.D., M.Sc., PT.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+55 11 3385 9134

Pinto Leal Junior, Ph.D., M.Sc., PT.

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

Fifty male healthy volunteers will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind (participants and assessors), controlled trial. Volunteers will be allocated in 5 groups of 10 participants each: 1 - Sham-control (fake intervention - massaging with one of the Human TECAR probes with the device turned off before or after the eccentric exercise protocol depending on randomization); 2 - Capacitive mode before exercise (preconditioning); 3 - Resistive mode before exercise (preconditioning); 4 - Capacitive mode after exercise (recovery); and 5 - Resistive mode after exercise (recovery). The treatment target will be the knee extensors muscles (quadriceps).

A standardized knee extension eccentric exercise protocol performed in the isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex System 4) will be used in order to exercise induce skeletal muscle fatigue and damage.

Volunteers will be treated with Human TECAR in a single treatment session, with 10 minutes length, that will be carried out immediately before or immediately after the exercise protocol according to the randomization.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Physically active male participants;
  • Do not present a history of musculoskeletal injury in the regions of the hips, knees and calves in the month preceding the study;
  • Are not using pharmacological agents;
  • Voluntarily commit to participate in all stages of the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • Present musculoskeletal or joint injuries during data collection;
  • Present history of musculoskeletal injury in the regions of the hips, knees and calves in the month preceding the study.

Treatment and study plan

Sham Comparator

Device

Massaging the quadriceps with one of the Human TECAR probes with the device turned off for 10 minutes

Capacitive mode before

Device

Capacitive mode applied to the quadriceps for 10 minutes

Resistive mode before

Device

Resistive mode applied to the quadriceps for 10 minutes

Capacitive mode after

Device

Capacitive mode applied to the quadriceps for 10 minutes

Resistive mode after

Device

Resistive mode applied to the quadriceps for 10 minutes

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in muscle strength

    Time frame: 48 hours after eccentric exercise

    The muscle strength will be measured through isokinetic dynamometry

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in muscle strength

    Time frame: 5 minutes after the treatment, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    The muscle strength will be measured through isokinetic dynamometry

  2. Change in CK activity

    Time frame: 5 minutes after the treatment, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    The CK activity will be analyzed from the blood samples collected from the participants through biochemical analysis and using specific reagent kits.

  3. Delayed onset muscle soreness - DOMS

    Time frame: 5 minutes after the treatment, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    DOMS will be assessed through the VAS scale

  4. Temperature

    Time frame: 5 minutes after the treatment, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    Thigh temperature will be assessed through Thermography using the WellVu camera.

  5. Muscular oxygen saturation index

    Time frame: 5 minutes after the treatment, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    It will be measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)

  6. Muscular blood flow

    Time frame: 5 minutes after the treatment, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    It will be measured analyzing total hemoglobin in muscle tissue using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)

  7. Muscular effort perception

    Time frame: 5 minutes after the treatment, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    The CR-100 Effort Perception Scale will be used

  8. Participant satisfaction with the treatment

    Time frame: 96 hours after the eccentric exercise protocol

    The Likert scale will be used

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nove de Julho

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Apr 22, 2025
Registry last updated
May 11, 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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