The Effect of Thermotherapy on Recovery and Performance

NCT ID: NCT02506283

Last Updated: 2025-10-17

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

22 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-05-31

Study Completion Date

2019-05-31

Brief Summary

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This study investigates the effects of cooling on the recovery and performance characteristic in young healthy subjects. The study is divided in two projects:

Project A: investigates the effects of 20 min. post-exercise cooling on vertical jump performance and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion.

Project B: investigates the effects of 20 min. pre-exercise cooling on maximal voluntary contraction of the right M. quadriceps femoris and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion.

Detailed Description

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The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a 20 min. external cooling application (+8°C ) versus a external thermo neutral application (+32°C) up to 72 hours post application.

The study is divided in two projects:

Project A: This study is focusing on the recovery process after a max. jump performance (3x30 counter movement jumps). Directly after the exercise subjects receive a cooling or thermo-neutral application. Recovery characteristics measured by vertical jump performance (objective) and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion (subjective) are measured in function of time up to 72 hours post cooling intervention.

Project B: This study is focusing on the effect of 20 min. cooling or thermo-neutral application on the M. quadriceps femoris performance (MVC). After the thermo-application, the 60% endurance MVC is measured by means of surface EMG (OT Bioelettronica 10-750 Hz) in a ergometer chair 90° degrees knee flexion (Cor 1 Bioelettronica). Muscle conduction velocity, MVC (objective), delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion (subjective) are measured in function of time up to 72 hours post thermo-application.

Conditions

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Healthy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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cooling intervention

subjects in this study receive a single pre-exercise (3x MVC) or post-exercise intervention (3x 30 counter movement jumps), consisting of an external cooling application (Zamar Therapy CT clinic) applied to both thighs. Both interventions have a duration of 20 minutes and a temperature of 8°C

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Zamar Therapy CT clinic

Intervention Type DEVICE

Zamar Therapy is a certified medical product (directive 93/42/EEC and ISO 134 85:2012) (www.zamarmedical.com)

thermoneutral intervention

subjects in the control group receive a single pre-exercise (3x MVC) or post-exercise (3x 30 counter movement jumps) sham intervention, consisting of a 20 minute external thermoneutral application (Zamar Therapy CT clinic) applied to both thighs. Both sham interventions have a duration of 20 minutes and a temperature of 32°C.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Zamar Therapy CT clinic

Intervention Type DEVICE

Zamar Therapy is a certified medical product (directive 93/42/EEC and ISO 134 85:2012) (www.zamarmedical.com)

Interventions

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Zamar Therapy CT clinic

Zamar Therapy is a certified medical product (directive 93/42/EEC and ISO 134 85:2012) (www.zamarmedical.com)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* only healthy young subjects 18-30 years
* no musculoskeletal surgery in trunk and lower extremities
* injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year
* subjects taking anticonceptive medication are allowed to participate

Exclusion Criteria

* actual injuries or injuries for less than one year in trunk and /or lower extremities
* injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year with complaints
* anxiety of cooling
* subjects on medication
* pace maker
* cardiovascular disease
* pregnancy
* skeletal problems
* appendectomy for less than two years
* Morbus Raynaud syndrome
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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THIM - die internationale Hochschule für Physiotherapie

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Universiteit Antwerpen

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Ron Clijsen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland SUPSI

Locations

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University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland SUPSI

Landquart, Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland

Site Status

Countries

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Switzerland

References

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Bleakley C, McDonough S, Gardner E, Baxter GD, Hopkins JT, Davison GW. Cold-water immersion (cryotherapy) for preventing and treating muscle soreness after exercise. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;2012(2):CD008262. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008262.pub2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22336838 (View on PubMed)

Ross ML, Garvican LA, Jeacocke NA, Laursen PB, Abbiss CR, Martin DT, Burke LM. Novel precooling strategy enhances time trial cycling in the heat. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jan;43(1):123-33. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181e93210.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20508537 (View on PubMed)

Ascensao A, Leite M, Rebelo AN, Magalhaes S, Magalhaes J. Effects of cold water immersion on the recovery of physical performance and muscle damage following a one-off soccer match. J Sports Sci. 2011 Feb;29(3):217-25. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2010.526132.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 21170794 (View on PubMed)

Banfi G, Lombardi G, Colombini A, Melegati G. Whole-body cryotherapy in athletes. Sports Med. 2010 Jun 1;40(6):509-17. doi: 10.2165/11531940-000000000-00000.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 20524715 (View on PubMed)

Barnett A. Using recovery modalities between training sessions in elite athletes: does it help? Sports Med. 2006;36(9):781-96. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200636090-00005.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 16937953 (View on PubMed)

Pointon M, Duffield R, Cannon J, Marino FE. Cold application for neuromuscular recovery following intense lower-body exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Dec;111(12):2977-86. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-1924-1. Epub 2011 Mar 29.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 21445604 (View on PubMed)

Wegmann M, Faude O, Poppendieck W, Hecksteden A, Frohlich M, Meyer T. Pre-cooling and sports performance: a meta-analytical review. Sports Med. 2012 Jul 1;42(7):545-64. doi: 10.2165/11630550-000000000-00000.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22642829 (View on PubMed)

White GE, Wells GD. Cold-water immersion and other forms of cryotherapy: physiological changes potentially affecting recovery from high-intensity exercise. Extrem Physiol Med. 2013 Sep 1;2(1):26. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-26.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 24004719 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Related Links

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http://www.zamarmedical.com

Zamar thermotherapy

Other Identifiers

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KEK-ZH-Nr.2015-0113

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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