An interventional study of Tecar therapy (capacitive mode) and Active recovery using cycle ergometer in Muscle Fatigue and Healthy Adult, sponsored by Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba. Recruiting at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-23.
Sponsored by Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two recovery methods after fatigue in young athletes. It aims to find out if tecar therapy (TECAR) or cycle ergometer exercise can improve recovery after intense physical activity and help athletes return to their normal performance more quickly.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does TECAR or cycle ergometer improve physical performance after fatigue?
Do these methods reduce muscle pain and soreness after fatigue?
Researchers will compare TECAR with active recovery using a cycle ergometer to see which method is more effective.
Participants will:
Perform a series of jumps to induce fatigue
Be randomly assigned to one of the recovery methods
Complete physical tests before and after fatigue
Undergo simple measurements of muscle condition and pain
Report their level of effort and muscle soreness
This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two recovery strategies following exercise-induced fatigue in young athletes: tecar therapy (TECAR) and active recovery (usual care) using a cycle ergometer.
Exercise-induced fatigue can reduce physical performance and increase muscle soreness, which may negatively affect athletic performance and increase injury risk. This study aims to compare the effects of two commonly used recovery strategies on physical performance, muscle mechanical properties, and perceived recovery.
Participants will be physically active young athletes over 18 years of age, familiar with plyometric or jump-based activities. They will be recruited through convenience sampling. Individuals with recent musculoskeletal injuries or those who have performed intense physical exercise within 24 hours prior to testing will be excluded.
All procedures will be conducted in a controlled environment by trained personnel following a standardized protocol. After providing informed consent, participants will undergo baseline assessments, including physical performance tests, measurements of muscle mechanical properties, and subjective perception of effort and muscle soreness.
A standardized warm-up will be performed prior to testing, consisting of low-intensity aerobic activity for approximately five minutes, aiming to reach a moderate level of perceived exertion.
Participants will then complete a fatigue protocol consisting of repeated drop jumps from a fixed height of approximately 0.6 meters. The protocol will be organized into multiple sets with controlled rest intervals between repetitions and sets in order to induce acute neuromuscular fatigue in a standardized manner.
Immediately after the fatigue protocol, the same assessments will be repeated to evaluate the acute effects of fatigue.
Participants will then be randomly assigned to one of the two recovery interventions:
TECAR: application of capacitive and resistive electric transfer using radiofrequency energy for 20 minutes
Active recovery (usual care): continuous cycling on a cycle ergometer at low-to-moderate intensity for 20 minutes, reflecting standard recovery practices commonly used in athletic settings
Following the assigned recovery intervention, all assessments will be repeated to evaluate recovery effects.
In addition, subjective measures of muscle soreness and perceived effort will be collected at 12 and 24 hours after the intervention to assess short-term recovery.
Outcome measures will include objective indicators of physical performance and muscle mechanical properties, assessed using a handheld myotonometer, as well as pressure pain threshold (a measure of sensitivity to pressure), and subjective measures related to perceived effort and muscle soreness.
Statistical analysis will include descriptive statistics and inferential analysis to compare differences between groups and over time. A two-way analysis of variance (group × time) will be used to evaluate the effects of the recovery intervention and measurement time points, including potential interaction effects. Statistical significance will be set at p \< 0.05.
This study aims to provide evidence on the comparative effectiveness of TECAR and active recovery strategies, contributing to the optimization of recovery protocols in athletic populations.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants assigned to this group will receive tecar therapy (TECAR) for 20 minutes. TECAR will be applied using the capacitive mode only, combining manual mobile application and fixed automatic application. The intervention will be applied after a standardized fatigue protocol consisting of repeated drop jumps, which is identical for all participants.
Device: Tecar therapy (capacitive mode)
Participants assigned to this group will perform active recovery (usual care) consisting of continuous cycling on a cycle ergometer for 20 minutes at low intensity, not exceeding 2-3 on a 0-10 rating of perceived exertion scale. The intervention will be applied after a standardized fatigue protocol consisting of repeated drop jumps, which is identical for all participants. This intervention reflects standard recovery practices commonly used in athletic settings.
Behavioral: Active recovery using cycle ergometer
TECAR is applied using capacitive radiofrequency energy for 20 minutes following a standardized fatigue protocol. The intervention is delivered using capacitive mode only, combining manual mobile application and fixed automatic application over the quadriceps region to promote recovery after exercise-induced fatigue.
Also known as: Capacitive and resistive electric transfer therapy. Radiofrequency therapy
Active recovery consists of continuous cycling on a cycle ergometer for 20 minutes at low intensity, not exceeding 2-3 on a 0-10 rating of perceived exertion scale. This intervention is performed after a standardized fatigue protocol and reflects common recovery practices in athletic settings.
Also known as: Low-intensity cycling exercise
Countermovement jump height
Vertical jump performance will be assessed using a countermovement jump test. Jump height will be measured using a validated mobile application after three attempts, and the mean value will be recorded.
Time frame: Baseline (after warm-up), immediately after fatigue protocol, and immediately after intervention (20 minutes).
Muscle mechanical properties
Muscle mechanical properties will be assessed using a handheld myotonometer. Parameters will include muscle tone and stiffness measured at standardized anatomical locations of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius.
Time frame: Baseline (after warm-up), immediately after fatigue protocol, and immediately after intervention (20 minutes).
Pressure pain threshold
Pressure pain threshold will be assessed using a handheld algometer. Measurements will be performed at standardized anatomical locations of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and medial gastrocnemius, and the mean of repeated measurements will be recorded.
Time frame: Baseline (after warm-up), immediately after fatigue protocol, and immediately after intervention (20 minutes).
Rating of perceived exertion
Perceived exertion will be assessed using a 0-10 rating scale, where higher values indicate greater perceived effort.
Time frame: Baseline (after warm-up), immediately after fatigue protocol, immediately after intervention (20 minutes), 12 hours, and 24 hours.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) will be assessed using a 0-10 numeric rating scale, where 0 indicates no muscle soreness and 10 indicates the worst possible muscle soreness.
Time frame: Baseline (after warm-up), 12 hours, and 24 hours.
Plan to share: No
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Maimónides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba