"Recovery Techniques on Pain, Force and Muscle Oxygenation in Athletes: A Crossover Trial"

This project is designed as a randomized, double-blind (outcome assessor and statistician), crossover clinical trial. The study aims to address the critical need for evidence-based recovery strategies in high-demand sports such as basketball, where muscle overload is a primary risk factor for injury.The investigation will focus on the immediate physiological and functional effects of six widely utilized physiotherapy modalities:Capacitive and Resistive Energy Transfer (TECAR) Therapy: Utilized to improve tissue perfusion and modulate inflammatory responses through deep endogenous thermotherapy.Percussive Massage Therapy: Applied via mechanical vibration to reduce muscular stiffness and enhance explosive force restoration.Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): Evaluated for its capacity to enhance muscular microcirculation and accelerate immediate tissue metabolic activity.Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (Pressotherapy): Targeted at reducing perceived pain and the sensation of limb heaviness through mechanical fluid drainage.Intermittent Negative Pressure Therapy (Vacuum Therapy): Investigated for its role in localized blood flow enhancement and pain modulation.Manual Sports Massage: Defined as the traditional manual intervention for reducing perceived muscle soreness and improving soft tissue flexibility.Physiological monitoring will be conducted using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure muscle oxygen saturation ($SmO_2$) and total hemoglobin, providing direct data on muscle oxidative metabolism. Functional outcomes will be assessed through pressure pain thresholds (PPT) via algometry and maximal isometric strength via dynamometry to determine the effectiveness of each technique in restoring neuromuscular homeostasis.The study will be conducted at the Sierra Varona Physiotherapy Clinic (Toledo, Spain) between February and March 2026..

Inclusion criteria

Professional or Semi-professional athletes (specifically basketball players or endurance athletes) with a minimum of 2 years of competitive experience.

Aged between 18 and 35 years.

Healthy individuals with no current musculoskeletal injuries in the lower limbs.

Regular training frequency of at least 4-5 sessions per week.

Signed informed consent to participate in the study and follow the 6-week crossover protocol.

Commitment to maintain similar nutritional and sleep habits throughout the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

Presence of any acute or chronic injury in the gastrocnemius or Achilles tendon in the last 6 months.

Contraindications for specific therapies:

For Shockwave Therapy: Blood clotting disorders or use of anticoagulants.

For TECAR/Diathermy: Metal implants in the lower limbs or pacemakers.

For Cupping: Acute skin infections or dermatological hypersensitivity.

Consumption of performance-enhancing drugs, anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs), or stimulants that could affect muscle oxygenation (SmO2) or pain perception.

Recent surgery in the lower extremities (within the last year).

Inability to complete the standardized fatigue protocol or attend all 6 intervention sessions.