ClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT05793242Updated Apr 26, 2023

Immediate and 24-hour Effects of HyperVolt, Body Tempering, and Cupping Compared to Stretching on Hamstring Flexibility

An interventional study of Hypervolt and Body Tempering in Hamstring Contractures and Muscle Tightness, sponsored by University of South Carolina. Status unknown at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 39 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-04-26.

Sponsored by University of South Carolina · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Apr 2023), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
80
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 39 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the HyperVolt percussive massage device, body tempering, and dry cupping to static stretching of the hamstrings of healthy adults aged 18-39 years on the active knee extension and back saver sit-and-reach test.While these modalities are frequently used in healthcare settings there is a paucity of research regarding effectiveness. If the effects on flexibility are comparable, patients could save time and money by performing static stretching.

Read the detailed description

Our study aims to compare the effects of the HyperVolt percussive massage device (HyperVolt), body tempering, and dry cupping compared to static stretching on flexibility and range of motion (ROM), specifically in those with active hamstring ROM limitations. Those individuals from the University of South Carolina community who are interested in becoming study participants will be identified by means of announcements made in the Seminar in Physical Therapy course which is attended by all Physical Therapy students, faculty, and staff each week. Interested individuals will be provided with Dr.Cathy Arnot's email address in order to schedule an evaluation session to determine whether or not they meet the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria. A flyer will also be posted in the Blatt PE Building with Sean Edmonds' contact information included. Interested individuals that contact Sean will be scheduled for screening by Dr.Cathy Arnot. Participants will be assigned to either the HyperVolt percussive massage device (HyperVolt) group, body tempering group, dry cupping group, or static stretching group via blocked randomization for sex and age, with at least twenty participants being placed into each group. The HyperVolt percussive massage group participants will receive a therapist-performed HyperVolt technique for a period of 5 minutes. The body tempering group participants will receive a therapist-performed body tempering technique for a period of 5 minutes. The dry cupping group participants will receive a therapist-performed dry cupping technique for a period of 5 minutes. The static stretch group participants will perform a self-facilitated stretch by looping a strap around the heel of their foot and grasping it with both hands followed by pulling the strap to raise the fully extended leg into hip flexion. The participant will then lift the leg until they reach their maximal tolerable point and then alternate between periods of resting and stretching for a total of 5 minutes. Measurements will be assessed at three time points: Immediately before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 24 hours after the intervention.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hamstring Contractures
  • Muscle Tightness

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03

In context

Contracture

79 studies on the registry are indexed under Contracture; 18 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 80 is above the median of 33 across 62 interventional studies indexed under Contracture.

Browse Contracture studies →

Lead sponsor

University of South Carolina is the lead sponsor of 197 studies on the registry; 42 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 39 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Shortened hamstring length
  • Male participants will display ≤141 degrees of knee extension
  • Female participants will display ≤152 degrees of knee extension

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • history of knee injury
  • hypertension
  • thrombophlebitis
  • inflammation
  • myositis ossificans
  • osteomyelitis
  • open wounds
  • unhealed fractures
  • hematoma or hemophilia
  • pregnancy
  • cancer
  • burns or skin grafts
  • varicose veins
  • synovitis
  • currently taking any anticoagulation medications
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • osteoporosis
  • any other condition that would prevent safe participation
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
80 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Static stretching

    The static stretch group participants will perform a self-facilitated stretch by looping a strap around the heel of their foot and grasping it with both hands followed by pulling the strap to raise the fully extended leg into hip flexion. The participant will then lift the leg until they reach their maximal tolerable point and then alternate between periods of resting and stretching for a total of 5 minutes.

    Other: Static stretching

  • Experimental
    Hypervolt

    The HyperVolt percussive massage group participants will receive a therapist-performed HyperVolt technique to the hamstrings for a period of 5 minutes.

    Device: Hypervolt

  • Experimental
    Body tempering

    The body tempering group participants will receive a therapist-performed body tempering technique to the hamstrings for a period of 5 minutes.

    Device: Body Tempering

  • Experimental
    Dry cupping

    The dry cupping group participants will receive a therapist-performed dry cupping technique to the hamstrings for a period of 5 minutes.

    Device: Dry cupping

Interventions

  • DeviceHypervolt

    HyperVolt Percussive Massage Device: this will be performed by a physical therapist while the participant is prone. The physical therapist will apply a vibrating device to the back of the thigh with moderate pressure while continuously moving the device for 5 minutes.

  • DeviceBody Tempering

    Body Tempering:this will be performed by a physical therapist while the participant is prone. The physical therapist will apply a moderately heavy metal device to the back of the thigh while continuously moving the device for 5 minutes.

  • DeviceDry cupping

    Dry Cupping: This will be performed by a physical therapist while the participant is prone. The physical therapist will apply several negative pressure devices to the back of your thigh for 5 minutes.

  • OtherStatic stretching

    Participants will perform a static stretch on their lower extremity. This stretch will be performed by having the participant loop a strap around their heel and grasping it with both hands followed by pulling the strap to raise the fully extended leg into hip flexion. The participant will be instructed to lift the leg until they reach their maximal tolerable point and then to hold the position for 30 seconds. They will then lower the extremity to the table and rest for 15 seconds This self-stretch sequence will be performed for 7 cycles so that the total intervention was equal to the intervention time of the other group (5 minutes).7

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Active Knee Extension Test (AKE)

    The Active Knee Extension (AKE) Test measures will be conducted by a pair of graders that will be blinded to the intervention applied to the study participants. Participants will have an axis of rotation labeled at the lateral aspect of the knee joint midline. The participant will be instructed to lie down on the table in the supine position. One of the test graders will assist the participant in performing and maintaining 90-degrees of hip flexion throughout this test. The participant will be instructed to extend at the knee as much as possible and told to hold the position for the second grader to measure the knee extension ROM using a goniometer. A total of 3 measurements will be conducted, with the last 2 recorded for data analysis.

    Time frame: Immediately after intervention

  2. Active Knee Extension Test (AKE)

    The Active Knee Extension (AKE) Test measures will be conducted by a pair of graders that will be blinded to the intervention applied to the study participants. Participants will have an axis of rotation labeled at the lateral aspect of the knee joint midline. The participant will be instructed to lie down on the table in the supine position. One of the test graders will assist the participant in performing and maintaining 90-degrees of hip flexion throughout this test. The participant will be instructed to extend at the knee as much as possible and told to hold the position for the second grader to measure the knee extension ROM using a goniometer. A total of 3 measurements will be conducted, with the last 2 recorded for data analysis.

    Time frame: 24 hours after the intervention

  3. Back-Saver Sit-and-Reach Test

    The Back-Saver Sit-and-ReachTest will be conducted by a pair of graders that will be blinded to the intervention group of the study participants. A box will be utilized with a ruler placed on top of the box with 9 inches protruding out towards the participant. The ruler will run parallel to the direction of forward movement by the participant. When instructed, the tested lower extremity will remain fully extended at the knee with the plantar side of the foot flat up against the wall of the box. The contralateral non-tested leg will be flexed at the knee, resulting in the plantar side of the foot flat down against the floor. The foot of the non-tested leg will be placed within 2 to 3 inches away from the fully extended tested leg and remain planted at all times during testing procedures. Participants will be instructed to reach forward as far as possible with arms fully extended, back straight, and head up.

    Time frame: Immediately after intervention

  4. Back-Saver Sit-and-Reach Test

    The Back-Saver Sit-and-ReachTest will be conducted by a pair of graders that will be blinded to the intervention group of the study participants. A box will be utilized with a ruler placed on top of the box with 9 inches protruding out towards the participant. The ruler will run parallel to the direction of forward movement by the participant. When instructed, the tested lower extremity will remain fully extended at the knee with the plantar side of the foot flat up against the wall of the box. The contralateral non-tested leg will be flexed at the knee, resulting in the plantar side of the foot flat down against the floor. The foot of the non-tested leg will be placed within 2 to 3 inches away from the fully extended tested leg and remain planted at all times during testing procedures. Participants will be instructed to reach forward as far as possible with arms fully extended, back straight, and head up.

    Time frame: 24 hours after the intervention

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • University of South Carolina
    Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Blazevich AJ, Gill ND, Kvorning T, Kay AD, Goh AG, Hilton B, Drinkwater EJ, Behm DG. No Effect of Muscle Stretching within a Full, Dynamic Warm-up on Athletic Performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2018 Jun;50(6):1258-1266. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001539. PubMed 29300214 ↗
  • Aguilar AJ, DiStefano LJ, Brown CN, Herman DC, Guskiewicz KM, Padua DA. A dynamic warm-up model increases quadriceps strength and hamstring flexibility. J Strength Cond Res. 2012 Apr;26(4):1130-41. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31822e58b6. PubMed 22446678 ↗
  • Konrad A, Glashuttner C, Reiner MM, Bernsteiner D, Tilp M. The Acute Effects of a Percussive Massage Treatment with a Hypervolt Device on Plantar Flexor Muscles' Range of Motion and Performance. J Sports Sci Med. 2020 Nov 19;19(4):690-694. eCollection 2020 Dec. PubMed 33239942 ↗
  • Taber CB, Colter RJ, Davis JJ, Seweje PA, Wilson DP, Foster JZ, Merrigan JJ. The Effects of Body Tempering on Force Production, Flexibility and Muscle Soreness in Collegiate Football Athletes. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2022 Jan 11;7(1):9. doi: 10.3390/jfmk7010009. PubMed 35076554 ↗
  • Williams JG, Gard HI, Gregory JM, Gibson A, Austin J. The Effects of Cupping on Hamstring Flexibility in College Soccer Players. J Sport Rehabil. 2019 May 1;28(4):350-353. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2017-0199. Epub 2018 Dec 4. PubMed 29364033 ↗
  • Gunn LJ, Stewart JC, Morgan B, Metts ST, Magnuson JM, Iglowski NJ, Fritz SL, Arnot C. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques improve hamstring flexibility better than static stretching alone: a randomized clinical trial. J Man Manip Ther. 2019 Feb;27(1):15-23. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2018.1475693. Epub 2018 Aug 1. PubMed 30692839 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started Apr 2023 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Nov 2023, 7 months after the start.

Of 30 interventional studies with no phase under Contracture, half reached primary completion within 13 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 3 and three quarters within 55. This study's planned 7 months is below that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 15, 2023
First posted
Mar 31, 2023
StartActual
Apr 3, 2023
Primary completionEst.
Nov 2023
CompletionEst.
Nov 2023
Last update
Apr 26, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 26, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05793242
Responsible party
Cathy Arnot (Project Director, University of South Carolina) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 31, 2023
Start date
Apr 3, 2023
Primary completion
Nov 2023 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 2023 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 26, 2023

Study contacts

Cathy F Arnot, DPT
Contact
arnot@mailbox.sc.edu
8032402455
Matthew Geary, DPT
Contact
gearym@mailbox.sc.edu
8435143798
Cathy F Arnot, DPT
study director · University of South Carolina

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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