The Effect of Thermotherapy on Recovery and Performance

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy

• Registration Number: NCT02506283
• Lead Sponsor: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Brief Summary

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

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-05-01
• Study First Submitted: 2015-05-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-07-21
• Study First Posted: 2015-07-23
• Primary Completion: 2018-11
• Study Completion: 2019-05-01
• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Results First Submitted: 2025-09-30
• Results First Submitted QC: 2025-09-30
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-30
• Results First Posted: 2025-10-20
• Last Update Posted: 2025-10-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 22

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Delayed-onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)	72 hours	The subjective recovery characteristics "Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)" was rated on a 0-10 cm visual analog scale. DOMS was assessed in a squat position (90° knee angle, with brief holding of maximum 3 seconds) ranging from zero (no soreness) to ten (severe soreness). Higher values mean mean more DOMS and therefore less recovery.
Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE)	72 hours	The subjective recovery characteristics " Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)" was rated on a 6-20 Borg scale (from 6 = "no exertion at all" to 20 = "Maximal exertion") in a standing position. The higher value means more exertion and therefore less recovery.
Vertical Jump Performance (VJP)	72 hours	Vertical jump performance (VJP) was assessed performing three maximal counter mouvemet jumps (CMJs) with a 30-second pause between the three jumps on the Just Jump system (Probotics Inc, Huntsville, AL, USA). The highest jump was recorded.
Peak Power Output (PPO)	72 hours	Peak power output (PPO) was assessed performing three maximal counter movement jumps (CMJs) on the Just Jump system (Probotics Inc, Huntsville, AL, USA) with a 30-second pause between the three jumps. PPO (presented in watts) was calculated.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland SUPSI; 🇨🇭 Landquart, Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland