Comparison of the Effects of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression, Graston Technique and Percussive Therapy

NCT ID: NCT06634862

Last Updated: 2024-10-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-12-02

Study Completion Date

2025-05-18

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study was to compare the effects of intermittent pneumatic pressure, percussive therapy and graston after a fatigue protocol applied to the leg muscles.

Detailed Description

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a- Subject and Objective (the importance of the subject, why this subject is the problem and the objectives of the study will be written based on the literature with the narration of the researcher):

Studies on the intermittent pneumatic compression device, graston technique and percussive therapy (massage weapons) have focused on investigating their use in athlete health. During the literature review, it was realised that the use of these and other auxiliary therapies and elements that increase the speed of recovery has not been investigated for sedentary individuals. The necessity and benefits of regular exercise for sedentary individuals as well as athletes in daily life have been proven by many studies. It has become a common belief that exercise should be a part of the life of every adult individual, whether athlete or sedentary, in order to maintain a healthy life. Furthermore, enjoyment of exercise and perceived exercise intensity play an important role in the adherence of sedentary individuals; moderate intensity exercise is more likely to be enjoyable and adaptive for this population. Psychological factors such as mood and self-efficacy also influence exercise behaviours in sedentary individuals, with negative exercise-related cognitions potentially moderating the exercise-effect relationship and affecting feelings of pleasure during and after exercise. However, one of the biggest obstacles for sedentary individuals to form a sports habit is the fatigue and muscle pain they experience after exercise. These effects, which make it difficult to continue daily life the next day, distract the person from the habit of exercising regularly. Furthermore, the psychosocial benefits of incorporating regular exercise into the daily life flow are well documented and emphasise the wider positive impact of exercise beyond physical health.

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) is a mechanical method used to apply compression to limbs and has a number of therapeutic uses. The device consists of a pair of inflatable sleeves wrapped around the leg and an electric pneumatic pump that inflates the sleeves with air, compressing deep veins and displacing blood proximally. The working principle of IPC is based on passively increasing blood flow by applying external pressure to the extremity, but the exact physiological mechanisms are only partially understood. However, despite its widely recognised use and positive effects on circulatory conditions, the literature on the use of IPC in musculoskeletal treatment is limited. The available evidence has been investigated in several studies, including the efficacy of IPC, its effect on vasodilatory effects in distal skeletal muscle and its effect on serum indices of muscle function, pain and muscle damage. Studies have also reported improvements in exercise duration as well as fatigue when using pneumatic compression during rest after warm-up exercises. IPC devices are particularly popular among endurance athletes because they have the potential to reduce exercise-induced muscle damage. Research on IPC has shown that the devices increase muscle blood flow during exercise and increase blood flow during post-exercise recovery. More research is needed on the effects of IPC in musculoskeletal treatment, especially on exercise-induced muscle damage and pain. In conclusion, IPC devices have shown promising results in various therapeutic applications, especially in athlete rehabilitation and post-exercise recovery. Furthermore, all of this information demonstrates the great potential of these devices for health and sports applications.

The Graston Technique (GT) is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation that uses stainless steel instruments to perform manual therapy on soft tissues. It is widely used by clinicians to treat various soft tissue disorders. Research has reported that it effectively promotes collagen synthesis and inhibition of adhesion of treated tissues. Furthermore, the graston technique has been used to manage pain and range of motion limitations caused by scar tissue and musculoskeletal injuries. Overall, the graston technique has been studied in a variety of contexts and has demonstrated potential effects on range of motion, pain relief and musculoskeletal conditions. Some studies reported direct effects on specific outcomes, while others emphasised its potential when combined with other therapeutic interventions. These findings contribute to the understanding of the graston technique as a modality for soft tissue mobilisation and musculoskeletal disorders in the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, particularly highlighting its potential to manage muscle pain and promote recovery. In conclusion, the graston technique is a widely used form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation with reported efficacy in the management of various musculoskeletal disorders.

Percussive therapy has gained popularity in recent years as a potential intervention to alleviate post-exercise muscle pain and fatigue. This therapy involves the use of a mechanical system to provide percussive massage and its effectiveness in promoting recovery and reducing muscle soreness has been a topic of interest in the field of sports medicine and rehabilitation. Several studies have investigated the acute effects of percussive therapy on muscle recovery and pain, aiming to understand its potential benefits for athletes and individuals engaged in physical activities. Furthermore, the use of percussive therapy with resistance training has been shown to have acute effects on movement velocity, suggesting the potential to influence exercise performance and recovery. These findings contribute to the understanding of how percussive therapy can influence muscle function and recovery processes. In the context of pain management, exercise therapy has been advocated as an effective treatment for chronic low back pain, suggesting the potential for therapeutic interventions, including percussive therapy, to address musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. Although the acute effects of percussive therapy on muscle recovery have been the focus of research, the underlying mechanisms and long-term effects of this therapy need to be further investigated. Understanding the impact of percussive therapy on muscle regeneration, inflammation and tissue repair processes may provide valuable insights into its potential to enhance recovery and reduce muscle fatigue. In conclusion, research on massage gun or percussive therapy demonstrates its potential as a valuable intervention to address post-exercise muscle pain and fatigue. Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms, long-term effects and comparative effectiveness of percussive therapy may provide valuable insights into its role in promoting muscle recovery and enhancing exercise performance.

Considering all these, it is necessary to compare these modalities among each other and to investigate their contribution to the health of sedentary individuals as well as athletes. Although there are studies in the literature on the comparison of these modalities with classical physiotherapy and rehabilitation modalities, there is no comparative study on their contribution to the recovery process. In addition to its contribution to the literature, this study is thought to be useful for physiotherapists who use these and similar modalities in the clinical environment.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of these therapeutic treatment modalities on post-exercise muscle pain, muscle tone and fatigue. Post-exercise recovery is a very popular topic in recent times, especially for athletes. Many different methods are used for this purpose in the clinical environment. In this study, the effectiveness of these modalities on recovery and their superiority over each other will be investigated.

H0 Hypothesis: Intermittent pneumatic compression, graston technique and percussive therapy have no effect on muscle pain, muscle tone and balance after quadriceps fatigue protocol.

H1 Hypothesis: Intermittent pneumatic compression device application is more effective than graston technique and percussive therapy on muscle pain, muscle tone and balance after quadriceps fatigue protocol.

H2 Hypothesis: Graston technique application is more effective than intermittent pneumatic compression device and percussive therapy on muscle pain, muscle tone and balance after quadriceps fatigue protocol.

H3 Hypothesis: Percussive therapy is more effective than intermittent pneumatic compression device and graston technique on muscle pain, muscle tone and balance after quadriceps fatigue protocol.

Conditions

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Recovery Method

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Four groups, together with a control group with no intervention. One group will receive pneumatic pressure treatment, one group will receive soft tissue mobilisation (graston) treatment and another group will receive percussive therapy treatment.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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intermittent pneumatic pressure group

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) is a mechanical method of applying compression to the limbs and has a number of therapeutic uses. The device consists of a pair of inflatable sleeves wrapped around the leg and an electric pneumatic pump that inflates the sleeves with air, compressing the deep veins and displacing blood proximally. The working principle of IPC is based on passively increasing blood flow by applying external pressure to the extremity, but the exact physiological mechanisms are only partially understood. However, despite its widely recognised use and positive effects on circulatory conditions, the literature on the use of IPC in musculoskeletal treatment is limited. The available evidence has been investigated in several studies, including the efficacy of IPC, its effect on vasodilatory effects in distal skeletal muscle and its effect on serum indices of muscle function, pain and muscle damage. Studies have also reported improvements in exercise duration as wel

Group Type OTHER

Normatec Air Compression

Intervention Type OTHER

Intermittent pneumatic pressure has been used in other studies, usually for deep vein thrombosis and vascular disorders. In this way, it has not been compared with other recovery interventions for post-exercise recovery applications.

Soft Tissue Mobilization Technique Group

The Graston Technique (GT) is a form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation that uses stainless steel instruments to perform manual therapy on soft tissues. It is widely used by clinicians to treat various soft tissue disorders. Research has reported that it effectively promotes the inhibition of adhesion of treated tissues and collagen synthesis. Furthermore, the graston technique has been used to manage pain and range of motion limitations caused by scar tissue and musculoskeletal injuries. Overall, the graston technique has been studied in a variety of contexts and has demonstrated potential effects on range of motion, pain relief and musculoskeletal conditions. Some studies reported direct effects on specific outcomes, while others emphasised its potential when combined with other therapeutic interventions. These findings contribute to the understanding of the graston technique as a modality for soft tissue mobilisation and musculoskeletal disorders in the field of physio

Group Type OTHER

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Intervention Type OTHER

The soft tissue mobilisation technique has been investigated in other studies in terms of its effect on soft tissue and its role recovery. In this way, there is no comparison with other recovery interventions for post-exercise recovery applications.

Percussive Therapy Group

Percussive therapy has gained popularity in recent years as a potential intervention to alleviate muscle soreness and fatigue after exercise. This therapy involves the use of a mechanical system to provide percussive massage and its effectiveness in promoting recovery and reducing muscle soreness has been a topic of interest in the field of sports medicine and rehabilitation. Several studies have investigated the acute effects of percussive therapy on muscle recovery and pain, aiming to understand its potential benefits for athletes and individuals engaged in physical activities. Furthermore, the use of percussive therapy with resistance training has been shown to have acute effects on movement speed, suggesting the potential to influence exercise performance and recovery. These findings contribute to the understanding of how percussive therapy can influence muscle function and recovery processes. In the context of pain management, exercise therapy is advocated as an effective treatm

Group Type OTHER

Percussive therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Percussive therapy has been investigated in device research and athlete health. In this way, it has not been compared with other recovery interventions for post-exercise recovery applications.

control group

In the control group, quadriceps fatigue protocol was applied, measurements were taken on two separate days and no intervention was made.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Normatec Air Compression

Intermittent pneumatic pressure has been used in other studies, usually for deep vein thrombosis and vascular disorders. In this way, it has not been compared with other recovery interventions for post-exercise recovery applications.

Intervention Type OTHER

Soft Tissue Mobilization

The soft tissue mobilisation technique has been investigated in other studies in terms of its effect on soft tissue and its role recovery. In this way, there is no comparison with other recovery interventions for post-exercise recovery applications.

Intervention Type OTHER

Percussive therapy

Percussive therapy has been investigated in device research and athlete health. In this way, it has not been compared with other recovery interventions for post-exercise recovery applications.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* To be between 25-45 years old.
* Not having any chronic disease.
* Not doing active sports for at least 6 months.
* Not having any previously diagnosed lower extremity pathology.
* Not having a chronic lower extremity problem and not having a major trauma (fracture, anterior cruciate ligament injury, etc.).
* Not having any cognitive problem that prevents them from following and adapting to a specific exercise programme.
* No visual, vestibular and neurological disorders.

Exclusion Criteria

* Having a chronic disease.
* Any musculoskeletal problem in the lower extremities.
* Use of sedative medication due to chronic disease (rheumatism, lung and/or heart etc.)
* Regular use of painkillers, muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory drugs.
* Any history of surgery on the lower extremity.
* Any history of pain in the lower extremity during the fatigue protocol.
* Pregnancy.
Minimum Eligible Age

25 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Okan University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Melis Beril Yazıcı

Master of Science, Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Okan University

Istanbul, Tuzla, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

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Melis Beril Yazıcı

Role: CONTACT

+905379778141

Özgür Sürenkök

Role: CONTACT

+90 532 221 39 07

Facility Contacts

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Emine Atıcı

Role: primary

+90 532 478 86 48

Melis Beril Yazıcı

Role: backup

References

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Stedge HL, Armstrong K. The Effects of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression on the Reduction of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Endurance Athletes: A Critically Appraised Topic. J Sport Rehabil. 2021 Jan 8;30(4):668-671. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2020-0364.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33418535 (View on PubMed)

Machado AF, Ferreira PH, Micheletti JK, de Almeida AC, Lemes IR, Vanderlei FM, Netto Junior J, Pastre CM. Can Water Temperature and Immersion Time Influence the Effect of Cold Water Immersion on Muscle Soreness? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2016 Apr;46(4):503-14. doi: 10.1007/s40279-015-0431-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26581833 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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OU-FTR-MBY-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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