The Effect of Reducing Soreness in Marathon Runners

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Contracture of Muscle, Thigh
• Interventions: Device: Pulsed electromagnetic field devices

• Registration Number: NCT01512082
• Lead Sponsor: Northern Orthopaedic Division, Denmark

Brief Summary

Delayed onset muscle soreness is defined as the sensition of pain and discomfort in skeletal muscles that occurs after eccentric muscle actions or strenuous exercise like a marathon.

Detailed Description

There is a growing body of clinical evidence which shows that noninvasive, nonpharmacologic pulsed electromagnetic fields have many clinical effects. Pulsed electromagnetic fields have shown to reduce pain in different groups of patients. This concerns patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, distal radius fractures, pelvic pain and postoperative patients.

A marathon is a muscular strain. Physiologic effects of a marathon involves muscular and connective tissue damage which initiates an inflammatory response as well as release of metabolic factors like lactate and free radicals, intracellular metabolites and by-products of proteolysis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic fields compared to placebo in reducing delayed onset muscle soreness in marathon runners.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-08
• Study First Submitted: 2012-01-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-01-13
• Study First Posted: 2012-01-19
• Primary Completion: 2012-05
• Study Completion: 2012-05
• Status Verified: 2015-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-04-09
• Last Update Posted: 2015-04-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 47

Inclusion Criteria

• Completion of a marathon
• Age > 18 years

Exclusion Criteria

• Unable to read and speak Danish

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Active pulsed electromagnetic field	Pulsed electromagnetic field devices	-
Non-active pulsed electromagnetic field	Pulsed electromagnetic field devices	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Thigh pain by walking	5 days	Primary outcome of thigh pain during semi-squat during 5 days following the marathon showed a significantly lower pain among the active group compared to the placebo group.; The outcome was thigh muscle pain measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale during a squat of 90 degrees three times a day; when they woke up, at 12 pm and 8 pm.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Registration of injuries and symptoms from the musculoskeletal system.	5 days	The group that received active pulsed electromagnetic field was running for a significant longer time the first day following the marathon.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Orthopaedic Surgery Research Unit, Aalborg University Hospital; 🇩🇰 Aalborg, Denmark