Efficacy of Microcurrent to Maximise Exercise Outcomes, Accelerate Recovery and Attenuate Muscle Damage in Athletes
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Greenwich
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Strength Performance
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The aim of this investigation is to analyse the potential benefits of wearing a new commercially available microcurrent device combined with different exercise training modalities on exercise outcomes, body composition, recovery including muscle damage, general markers of health and immune function in athletes.
Detailed Description
The investigation involves two randomised, balanced, double-blind parallel group between-participants design, aimed to analyse the effects of combining microcurrent with resistance and endurance training. Participants, once considered eligible for the study will be familiarised with the respective exercises, as well as tested for baseline values. Thereafter participants will be randomly assigned to one of the following intervention groups (1) Microcurrent (MCR+RT) with resistance training (2) Microcurrent (MCR+END) with endurance training (3) Sham with resistance training (SH+RT) and (4) Sham with endurance training (SH+END). Participants will perform 3 supervised training sessions per week (24 total workouts). Participants will wear the microcurrent or sham devices during 3 hr after workouts. Each group will follow a 10-week resistance or endurance training intervention combined with one of the two specific treatments (MCR or SH). Measurements of body composition, muscle thickness, performance, salivary and blood markers as well as delayed onset of muscle soreness will be determined before and after each particular (resistance or endurance training) intervention.
Participants It is anticipated that sixty participants, recruited from the Medway University Campus, will take part in the project. Inclusion criteria are: regularly trained male or female athletes, aged 18 to 45 years old, with at least 3 months of experience in resistance or endurance training, with no musculoskeletal injuries, metabolic conditions, or diseases or use of medications, smoking, and nutritional supplements known to affect physical performance, muscle damage or recovery processes (e.g., creatine, whey protein, and amino acids, vitamin or mineral supplementation, etc) within 6 weeks prior to the start of the study.
After being informed of all risks and potential benefits involved, participants will sign a written informed participation consent form. Procedures will be in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and will be approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Greenwich.
Intervention Resistance training groups
Familiarization period:
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Double Blind (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 20 Years to 45 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Regularly trained endurance or strength athletes
- •Minimum of 6 months of experience
Exclusion Criteria
- •Musculoskeletal injuries, metabolic diseases
- •Use of medications
- •Consuming any nutritional supplements that potentially affect physical performance (e.g., creatine, whey protein, and amino acids) within 6 weeks prior to the start of the study
Arms & Interventions
Resistance Training Microcurrent
Participants will combine a 10-week periodized and controlled resistance programme with 3 h of microcurrent after training.
Measurements pre and post-intervention will be body composition via DEXA, endurance performance (1 RM bench press and Squat) endurance (vo2max) and blood markers: haemoglobin; red blood cell; erythrocyte; haematocrit; mean corpuscular volume, transferrin; neutrophils; lymphocyte; monocytes, IL6, IL1, Myoglobin, salivary cortisol and testosterone. Elbow flexors, vastus medialis and vbastus lateralis muscle thickness
Intervention: Microcurrent (Device)
Resistance Training Shadow
Participants will combine a 10-week periodized and controlled resistance programme with 3 h of sham comparator after training.
Measurements pre and post-intervention will be body composition via DEXA, endurance performance (1 RM bench press and Squat) endurance (vo2max) and blood markers: haemoglobin; red blood cell; erythrocyte; haematocrit; mean corpuscular volume, transferrin; neutrophils; lymphocyte; monocytes, IL6, IL1, Myoglobin, salivary cortisol and testosterone. Elbow flexors, vastus medialis and vbastus lateralis muscle thickness
Intervention: Microcurrent (Device)
Endurance Training Microcurrent
Participants will combine a 10-week periodized and controlled endurance programme with 3 h of microcurrent after training.
Measurements pre and post-intervention will be body composition via DEXA, endurance performance (1 RM bench press and Squat) endurance (vo2max) and blood markers: haemoglobin; red blood cell; erythrocyte; haematocrit; mean corpuscular volume, transferrin; neutrophils; lymphocyte; monocytes, IL6, IL1, Myoglobin, salivary cortisol and testosterone. Elbow flexors, vastus medialis and vbastus lateralis muscle thickness
Intervention: Microcurrent (Device)
Endurance Training Shadow
Participants will combine a 10-week periodized and controlled endurance programme with 3 h of microcurrent after training.
Measurements pre and post-intervention will be body composition via DEXA, endurance performance (1 RM bench press and Squat) endurance (vo2max) and blood markers: haemoglobin; red blood cell; erythrocyte; haematocrit; mean corpuscular volume, transferrin; neutrophils; lymphocyte; monocytes, IL6, IL1, Myoglobin, salivary cortisol and testosterone. Elbow flexors, vastus medialis and vbastus lateralis muscle thickness
Intervention: Microcurrent (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Strength Performance
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Maximal strength
Salivary markers
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Cortisol
Salivary Markers
Time Frame: 10 weeks
HNP1-3
Endurance Performance
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Vo2 max
Body composition
Time Frame: 10 weeks
Fat mass
Blood Markers
Time Frame: 10 weeks
haemoglobin
Secondary Outcomes
- Hypertrophy(10 weeks)
- Muscle Damage(10 weeks)
Investigators
Fernando Naclerio
Associate Professor
University of Greenwich