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NCT Number: NCT07367243

Percussive Massage Therapy and Muscle Architecture

Percussive massage therapy (PMT) is widely used in therapeutic and athletic settings, but its effects on muscle architecture are not yet fully understood. This study aims to examine the acute effects of PMT applied to the plantar flexor muscles on the muscle architecture of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles in healthy adults aged 18 to 30 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a PMT group or a control group. Ultrasonographic assessments will be performed before and after the intervention to evaluate muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length. The findings of this study may help clarify the acute effects of PMT on muscle structure.

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Key information

Conditions

Muscle Architecture

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Karadeniz Technical University

Trabzon, 61080, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Murat Emirzeoglu, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+904623774270

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged between 18 and 30 years

Exclusion criteria

  • History of any surgical procedure
  • Hospitalization for any reason within the last two years
  • Hospital admission for treatment purposes within the last six months
  • Use of any medication within the last three months
  • History of congenital, neurological, orthopedic, rheumatologic, or cardiopulmonary pathology or anomaly
  • Presence of any known serious systemic disease
  • Current health-related complaints or symptoms
  • Body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or higher

Treatment and study plan

Percussive Massage Therapy (PMT)

Other

Percussive massage therapy is applied to the plantar flexor muscle groups of both legs for 8 minutes using standardized procedures.

Primary outcomes

  1. Muscle Architecture

    Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention

    Changes in gastrocnemius medialis and gastrocnemius lateralis muscle architecture, including muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length, are assessed using ultrasonography.

Study contacts

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

Murat Emirzeoglu, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+904623774270

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Karadeniz Technical University

Other

Collaborators

  • The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Registry information

Official study title

Acute Effects of Percussive Massage Therapy Applied to Healthy Individuals on Gastrocnemius Muscle Architecture: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 26, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 26, 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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