Posterior Chain Responses to Gastrocnemius DOMS

NCT ID: NCT07324395

Last Updated: 2026-01-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 14 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-12-20
• Study Completion Date: 2025-04-25

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the calf muscle (gastrocnemius) affects the muscles of the posterior chain and physical performance in healthy young adults. The main questions the study aims to answer are:

Does DOMS in the calf muscle change the biomechanical properties (tone, stiffness, elasticity) of other muscles in the posterior chain?

Does DOMS lower trunk endurance, muscle strength, balance, or jump performance?

Participants will:

Take part in a gastrocnemius exercise protocol designed to safely create DOMS

Complete repeated assessments at baseline, immediately after exercise, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours

Have their muscle properties measured with a handheld device

Complete trunk endurance tests, muscle strength tests, balance tests, and a vertical jump test

Provide a blood sample to measure creatine kinase (a marker of muscle damage)

This research may help clinicians better understand how soreness in one muscle can influence the whole posterior chain and may guide safer training and recovery strategies.

Detailed Description

This prospective repeated-measures clinical trial includes healthy adults aged 18-25 years. DOMS will be induced using a standardized exercise protocol targeting the gastrocnemius muscle. Outcome measures will be collected at five time points: baseline, immediately after the DOMS-inducing exercise, and 24, 48, and 72 hours post-exercise.

Primary outcomes include muscle biomechanical properties such as muscle tone, stiffness, elasticity, relaxation, and creep, measured using a digital myotonometer. Trunk endurance is also assessed as a primary outcome because of the posterior chain's role in load transfer and stabilization.

Secondary outcomes include:

Muscle strength

Dynamic balance performance

Vertical jump height

Pain pressure threshold

Serum creatine kinase levels to confirm muscle damage

To reduce assessment bias, each assessor is responsible for only one measurement type and is blinded to the DOMS-induction procedure. All assessments occur at the same time points for all participants.

The study aims to provide new information about how localized muscle soreness affects chain-related muscle behavior and functional performance. Findings may contribute to improved injury-prevention, training, and rehabilitation strategies, especially for populations exposed to high mechanical load.

Conditions

Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS); Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

DOMS Induction Arm

Participants in this arm will complete a standardized exercise protocol designed to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the gastrocnemius muscle. All assessments will be performed at baseline, immediately after the DOMS protocol, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Gastrocnemius DOMS Induction Protocol

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will complete an eccentric exercise protocol to safely induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the gastrocnemius muscle. The protocol includes:

Exercise performed bilaterally, starting with the dominant leg Three sets of eccentric heel-lowering movements A 5-minute rest period between sets Participants place the foot on a step and lower the heel for 3 seconds using eccentric contraction The heel is lowered until no further downward motion is possible The opposite leg is used only to lift the body back to the starting position in 1 second A metronome set to 60 beats per minute is used to control movement speed Each set ends when the participant can no longer maintain the required tempo Participants are instructed to avoid physical activity and not take any pain-relieving medication during the 72-hour follow-up period.

Intervention Model Description: All participants receive the same DOMS induction protocol.

Interventions

Gastrocnemius DOMS Induction Protocol

Participants will complete an eccentric exercise protocol to safely induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the gastrocnemius muscle. The protocol includes:

Exercise performed bilaterally, starting with the dominant leg Three sets of eccentric heel-lowering movements A 5-minute rest period between sets Participants place the foot on a step and lower the heel for 3 seconds using eccentric contraction The heel is lowered until no further downward motion is possible The opposite leg is used only to lift the body back to the starting position in 1 second A metronome set to 60 beats per minute is used to control movement speed Each set ends when the participant can no longer maintain the required tempo Participants are instructed to avoid physical activity and not take any pain-relieving medication during the 72-hour follow-up period.

Intervention Model Description: All participants receive the same DOMS induction protocol.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• The study included 14 volunteers aged 18-25 with a resting heart rate between 50 and 90 beats per minute who were right-handed.

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals who had undergone lower extremity injury or surgery in the past six months were excluded from the study. Those with chronic lower extremity pain or systemic or neurological diseases were also excluded. Participants with vision or hearing problems that could affect balance were excluded. Individuals who regularly used medication, smoked, consumed alcohol, or used other harmful substances were also excluded. Participants who regularly used caffeine or vitamin C supplements or who had an exercise habit were also excluded from the study.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Ebru Aloğlu Çiftçi

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Ebru Aloğlu Çiftçi

PhD student

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Istinye University Topkapi Campus, Maltepe, Teyyareci Sami St. No:3,

Istanbul, Zeytinburnu, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

References

Baird MF, Graham SM, Baker JS, Bickerstaff GF. Creatine-kinase- and exercise-related muscle damage implications for muscle performance and recovery. J Nutr Metab. 2012;2012:960363. doi: 10.1155/2012/960363. Epub 2012 Jan 11.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 22288008 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

GDYY01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id