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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07256808

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Prevention

This randomized controlled trial investigated whether a 10-week heavy resistance training program reduced the incidence of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) in collegiate indoor track and field athletes. Twenty-six athletes from Rowan University were randomly assigned to a treatment group (resistance training plus regular training) or a control group (regular training only). Muscle mechanical properties-including tone, stiffness, elasticity, stress relaxation time, and creep-were measured by MyotonPro device (non-invasive) at baseline, post-intervention, and at the end of the season. A 10-week observational follow-up during the indoor season included weekly MTSS symptom surveys. Differences in MTSS incidence and muscle properties were analyzed between groups.

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Key information

Conditions

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Leg Injuries Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Rowan University

Glassboro, New Jersey, 08028, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Collegiate athletes on the Indoor Track and Field team.
  • Athletes must participate in at least one of the following:
  • 60m-800m events (including hurdles)
  • jumping events (including pole vault)

Exclusion criteria

  • Subjects who have a history of musculoskeletal or neurologic conditions
  • Who take medications that affect muscle tone
  • Who have a body mass index >30.0 kg/m2 were excluded to screen to prevent adipose tissue from skewing the measurements.
  • Any subject with any fractures, sprains, or strains of the lower extremities were excluded.
  • Any subject with active MTSS, stress fracture, or other lower leg pathology symptoms at the time the initial survey was administered were excluded.
  • Any athlete who does not participate in the 60m-800m events (including hurdles), or who does not participate in jumping events (including pole vault) were excluded.

Treatment and study plan

Resistance training

Other

Participants performed a 10-week resistance training program, completing exercises twice daily for Weeks 1-2 and three times daily for Weeks 3-10, with 5 sessions per week for Weeks 1-7 and 6 sessions per week for Weeks 8-10. The program included exercises such as standing broad jumps, resisted ankle abduction, single-leg eccentric plantar flexion, and ankle rockers. Participants' muscle properties were assessed at the start and end of the intervention, with adherence monitored via remote video confirmation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Subjective Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Symptoms

    Time frame: Through the running season -- approximately 11 weeks

    Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) Score Survey

Secondary outcomes

  1. Myotonometry Oscillation frequency

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

    Represents the intrinsic tension of the muscle in its passive state, essentially the muscle's "tone".

  2. Myotonometry dynamic stiffness

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

    Measures the resistance of the tissue to deformation when subjected to an external force.

  3. Myotonometry logarithmic decrement

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

    Indicates the elasticity of the muscle

  4. Myotonometry mechanical stress relaxation time

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

    Measures the time it takes for the muscle to return to its original shape after being deformed.

  5. Myotonometry creep

    Time frame: From enrollment through the end of data collection -- approximately 25 weeks

    Describes the gradual elongation of the muscle under constant tensile stress over time.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rowan University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of a Lower Leg Strengthening Program in the Prevention of MTSS in Collegiate XC Runners

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Dec 1, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 1, 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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