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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01512082

The Effect of Reducing Soreness in Marathon Runners

Delayed onset muscle soreness is defined as the sensition of pain and discomfort in skeletal muscles that occurs after eccentric muscle actions or strenuous exercise like a marathon.

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Key information

Conditions

Contracture of Muscle, Thigh Contracture Joint Diseases Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Orthopaedic Surgery Research Unit, Aalborg University Hospital

Aalborg, 9000, Denmark

About this study

There is a growing body of clinical evidence which shows that noninvasive, nonpharmacologic pulsed electromagnetic fields have many clinical effects. Pulsed electromagnetic fields have shown to reduce pain in different groups of patients. This concerns patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, distal radius fractures, pelvic pain and postoperative patients.

A marathon is a muscular strain. Physiologic effects of a marathon involves muscular and connective tissue damage which initiates an inflammatory response as well as release of metabolic factors like lactate and free radicals, intracellular metabolites and by-products of proteolysis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic fields compared to placebo in reducing delayed onset muscle soreness in marathon runners.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Completion of a marathon
  • Age > 18 years

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable to read and speak Danish

Treatment and study plan

Pulsed electromagnetic field devices

Device

Every person received two active devices. The devices emitted 2-ms bursts of 27.12 MHz sinusoidal waves repeating at 2 bursts/s. Peak magnetic field intensity was 0.05 G which induced an average electric field of 10 mV in the tissue with an effect of 7.3 mW/cm3.

Other names: ActiPatch TM, Scandinavia ApS, Denmark

Primary outcomes

  1. Thigh pain by walking

    Time frame: 5 days

    Primary outcome of thigh pain during semi-squat during 5 days following the marathon showed a significantly lower pain among the active group compared to the placebo group.

    The outcome was thigh muscle pain measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale during a squat of 90 degrees three times a day; when they woke up, at 12 pm and 8 pm.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Registration of injuries and symptoms from the musculoskeletal system.

    Time frame: 5 days

    The group that received active pulsed electromagnetic field was running for a significant longer time the first day following the marathon.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Northern Orthopaedic Division, Denmark

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Reducing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Marathon Runners. A Double-blind Randomized Placebo-controlled Study.

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2012
Study completion
2012
First posted
Jan 19, 2012
Registry last updated
Apr 10, 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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