Clinical Research Directory

Effectiveness of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) and Myofascial Release in Reducing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in the Cervicothoracic Region

The current study is a randomized controlled trail comparing the effectiveness of IASTM and Myofascial Release for individuals with DOMS at cervicothoracic region. The trail aims to evaluate improvements in pain, ROM, and neck disability. Interventions will be delivered twice weekly for a specific duration. The primary outcomes is pain reduction, while the secondary outcomes include improved disability level and ROM. To conclude, IASTM demonstrated a significantly higher improvement compared to MFR in acute cervicothoracic DOMS in terms of pain, disability level, and ROM in all directions tested in adults.

A Study to Understand the Analgesic Properties of Topically Applied Menthol When Used in a Marathon.

The purpose of the research study is to gather the opinions and/or perceptions relating to the use of topically applied menthol and experience of pain during and after a marathon in adult runners (18+ years) participating in the 2025 Chicago Marathon. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does topically applied menthol reduce pain levels in marathon runners during recovery? * How quickly does pain relief occur after topically applied menthol application? * What are the sensory attributes (e.g., cooling sensation) associated with topically applied menthol use during and after the race? * How do demographic factors (e.g., age, sex, menstrual cycle stage, sleep quality) influence pain experience and topically applied menthol effectiveness? Researchers will compare pre- and post-application pain scores in the Recovery Application Zone to see if Biofreeze provides measurable pain relief and sensory benefits. Participants will: * Provide documented informed consent prior to participation. * Self-select to use Biofreeze products during or after the race. * Complete one or both of the following: 1. Recovery Application Zone Questionnaire (includes pain score before and after Biofreeze application, sensory assessments, demographics). 2. End of Race Questionnaire (includes retrospective recall of pain relief, product use, sensory experience, and demographic data).

"Recovery Techniques on Pain, Force and Muscle Oxygenation in Athletes: A Crossover Trial"

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of various passive post-exercise recovery techniques on professional athletes. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do passive recovery modalities significantly improve muscle oxygenation and tissue temperature immediately following high-intensity effort? Which specific technique is most effective in reducing perceived pain, measured by the pressure pain threshold, and restoring muscle strength? Researchers will compare six different therapeutic interventions-Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive therapy, manual massage, intermittent negative pressure therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, percussion therapy, and pneumatic pressotherapy-to determine which provides a superior immediate physiological and functional recovery effect. Participants will: Perform a high-intensity physical effort designed to induce peripheral fatigue. Be randomly assigned to receive one of the six recovery protocols. Undergo objective measurements immediately after the intervention, including near-infrared spectroscopy to assess muscle oxygen saturation, tissue thermography, algometry, and dynamometry.

Effects of Percussion Therapy on the Biomechanics of Pickleball Movement

With increased demand on pickleball as a recreational exercise, it is of interest in investigating the biomechanical characteristics of pickleball and determining the impacts of percussion therapy on them. This study aims to examine the effects of percussion therapy on the biomechanics of pickleball movement and muscle activation patterns in recreational pickleball players. It is hypothesized that kinematics and kinetics of pickleball performance improves after 4 weeks of percussion therapy.

Reliability of Cardiac Troponins for the Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction in the Presence of Skeletal Muscle Disease

Visits to the emergency department (ED) for chest pain are extremely common and require a safe, rapid and efficacious treatment algorithm to exclude a possible AMI. These diagnostic algorithms are partly based on an important laboratory value, which showed growing utility in the diagnostic and prognostic of many cardiovascular diseases in the last years : cardiac troponin. However, some patients with muscle disease often present with unexplained elevated high-sensitive cardiac Troponin T (hs-cTnT) levels in the absence of cardiac disease. The investigators aim at the characterization of the behaviour of this biomarker and its alternative (high-sensitive cardiac Troponin I), which will have important clinical implications on patients management.

Cold Vs Warm Water Immersion for DOMS Recovery

The study investigates the effectiveness of physical strategies in addressing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in physically active individuals. DOMS, a common phenomenon following intense or novel physical activity, is characterized by pain, inflammation, and functional impairments such as reduced range of motion, muscle strength, and endurance. These symptoms peak between 24-72 hours post-exercise and are attributed to micro-damage in muscle and connective tissue, followed by inflammatory responses. Despite extensive research, the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions remains inconclusive due to heterogeneity in study designs, outcome measures, and quality of evidence. The primary objective of this study is to systematically assess and compare the effectiveness of cold water immersion (CWI) or hot water immersion (HWI), in mitigating DOMS symptoms. This study will utilize a multi-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to evaluate therapeutic outcomes against a control group receiving simulated therapy. By employing a standardized exercise protocol to induce DOMS and unified assessment methodologies (e.g., biomechanical, biochemical, and functional tests), the study aims to provide robust evidence for the efficacy of these interventions. The findings will contribute to optimizing post-exercise recovery strategies, offering reliable therapeutic protocols for both clinical and athletic settings.

Effect of Wearing a Compression Sock During Running on Muscle Soreness in Distance Runners.

Running is the most popular physical activity worldwide. Although running provides many health benefits, it is often associated with injuries and symptoms such as delayed onset muscle soreness. There is still a paucity of interventions that can effectively minimise these symptoms in distance runners.