RecruitingNCT06458166

Associations Between Low Frequency Fatigue, Jump Height and Perceptual Measures of Muscle Soreness, Fatigue and Recovery

Associations Between Low Frequency Fatigue, Jump Height and Perceptual Measures of Muscle Soreness, Fatigue and Recovery in Youth Elite Soccer Players

Sponsor

University of Maia

Enrollment

40 participants

Start Date

Jul 1, 2024

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Conditions

Physical Exercise Fatigue

Summary

Over the recent years, the increased competitive demands in elite competitive athletes has sparked a heightened interest in monitoring fatigue. Given the nature of the soccer game, athletes may experience low-frequency fatigue. Until recently, this assessment was restricted to in-lab. However, the emergence of new instruments aiming to allow low-frequency assessment to be carried out on a daily basis, in the context of professional teams. This study aimed to analyze the recovery of low-frequency fatigue, jump height and perceptual responses following competition and investigate possible associations between the objective and subjective parameters.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin Age: 16 YearsMax Age: 21 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is looking at how elite youth soccer players recover after a competitive match, specifically measuring a type of muscle fatigue called low-frequency fatigue alongside jump height and how players feel about their soreness and energy levels. Researchers want to understand how these objective and subjective measures relate to each other during the days after a game. Eligible participants are elite-level youth soccer players competing in the top Portuguese division who played at least 70 minutes in a match. Participation involves completing physical tests such as jump assessments and filling out questionnaires about perceived recovery and soreness at set time points after competition. This summary was prepared to help patients understand the study in plain language.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

OTHERAssessment of low frequency fatigue using low frequency eletrical stimulation

Pre-programmed muscle electrical stimuli will be applied via Myocene® software using 3 electrodes: 1 cathode (5 x 10 cm) placed transversely over the proximal quadriceps femoris, and 2 anodes (5 x 5 cm) over the distal vastus medialis and vastus lateralis. Sixteen sets of stimuli will be administered with 5 seconds between sets. Each set consists of a single pulse, a train of 5 stimuli at 20 Hz, and a train of 18 stimuli at 120 Hz, with 1-second intervals between. The stimulation intensity starts at 25 mA and increases by 1 mA per set, reaching 40 mA in the final set. The Myocene® software calculates the ratio of low- to high-frequency evoked forces within each set. The outcome (Powerdex) is the median value of these 16 ratios for each leg. This evaluation will be conducted on both legs, taking 2 minutes per leg.