Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy as an Adjunct Modality to Warm-up Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Quadriceps Muscle Stiffness; Knee Range-of-motion
• Interventions: Device: Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy; Device: Sham treatment

• Registration Number: NCT06239103
• Lead Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct to warm-up exercises, in healthy participants. Researchers will investigate both the immediate effect of one round of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and after a warm-up exercise, on participants' range-of-motion (ROM) at the knee and quadriceps' muscle stiffness, measured through shear wave elastography, an ultrasound technique. This may be useful in future interventions to protect against sports injuries.

Participants will have their knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness measured thrice, once at baseline, once after PEMF/sham treatment, and once after 5 minutes of warm-up stationary bike exercises.

Researchers will compare with sham treatment to see if there are any significant effects from PEMF therapy.

Detailed Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as an adjunct to warm-up exercises, in healthy participants. Researchers will investigate both the immediate effect of one round of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and after a warm-up exercise, on participants' range-of-motion (ROM) at the knee and quadriceps' muscle stiffness, measured through shear wave elastography, an ultrasound technique. This may be useful in future interventions to protect against sports injuries.

Participants will have their knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness measured thrice, once at baseline, once after PEMF/sham treatment, and once after 5 minutes of warm-up stationary bike exercises.

* Baseline measurement of knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness

* Receive PEMF for ten minutes around their knee joint

* Interim measurement of knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness

* Perform 5 minutes of warm-up exercise on a stationary bike

* Final measurement of knee ROM and quadriceps' muscle stiffness

Researchers will compare with sham treatment to see if there are any significant effects from PEMF therapy.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-08-30
• Primary Completion: 2022-09-14
• Study Completion: 2022-09-14
• Study First Submitted: 2024-01-25
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-02-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-01
• Study First Posted: 2024-02-02
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged between 18 and 40
• Obtained written informed consent

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Exclusion Criteria

• History of major musculoskeletal or locomotor system disorder of lower limb
• History of traumatic or non-traumatic injury of lower limb
• History of surgical intervention of lower limb in the past 1 year
• Under any rehabilitation program at the time of investigation
• Contraindicated to physical exercises

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
PEMF treatment arm	Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy	Participants receive PEMF therapy. During this, the participant is seated with their right leg extended and with the bore of the PEMF machine between their knee and hip joints, with their left leg at rest. PEMF was applied at 1 mT, 15 Hz for 10 minutes.
Control arm	Sham treatment	Participants receive sham therapy, where the PEMF machine does not apply the pulsed electromagnetic waves. However, during this, the participant is kept in the same position as those in the treatment arm.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in knee range-of-motion from baseline immediately after PEMF and after warm-up exercise, as assessed by goniometer	From before PEMF/sham treatment to end of treatment and warm-up exercise, within 1 hour	A goniometer will be used to measure the knee range-of-motion: the static arm will follow a line joining the knee to the greater trochanter of the femur, and the moving arm a line from the knee to the lateral malleolus of the ankle

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in quadriceps muscle stiffness from baseline immediately after PEMF and after warm-up exercise, as assessed by ultrasound shear wave elastography	From before PEMF/sham treatment to end of treatment and warm-up exercise, within 1 hour	Ultrasound imaging and shear wave elastography will be used to measure the stiffness of the three superficial quadriceps muscles (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris). Markings will be made to standardise the position of scanning. Ultrasound imaging will be used to verify the muscle being scanned. After shear wave is applied and a stable image is obtained, Young's modulus will be measured as a measure of muscle stiffness.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CUHK-ORT Sports Injury Research Laboratory; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong