Objective: To assess the acute effect of a myofascial release protocol applied to the adductor muscles of the thigh on functional, biomechanical, and physiological variables. Methods: This study is a randomized, double-blind, two-arm crossover clinical trial that will analyze male water polo athletes aged 16 to 25 years recruited from a sports training center in the city of Bauru. Data related to the following parameters will be collected for the physical evaluation: functional performance, through the jump test; biomechanical, through maximum isometric torque of hip adductors, electromyography of the hip and gluteus medius muscles; and physiological, through the analysis of serum markers of muscle damage and inflammation, and heart rate variability. After the initial evaluation, the participants will be randomly divided into two groups: intervention group and sham group. Then, all participants will perform a game simulation. After the game, the participants will receive the intervention designated for each group. For the intervention group, a manual therapy protocol will be applied, based on myofascial release in the thigh region that presents trigger points. For the Sham group, a manual technique, called classic massage, will be applied, with superficial pressure, used to reach only subcutaneous tissues, without acting on muscles and fascia. This protocol will be repeated at four different times, always after the games. After a washout week, the participants will change groups and the data collection protocol will be applied again.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
16
A myofascial release protocol, applied to the thigh muscles in post-effort recovery in water polo athletes.
Massagem clássica, com pressão superficial, utilizada para atingir apenas tecidos subcutâneos, sem que haja ação sobre músculos e fáscias
Universidade do Sagrado Coração
Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil
Maximum Vertical Jump Test
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Maximum Voluntary Isometric Torque of the Hip Adductors
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Electromyography of Adductors, Gluteus Medius and Transversus Abdominis
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Collection of Serum Markers
The markers: creatine kinase (CK; Units of Measure= U/L), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; Units of Measure= UI/L), myoglobin (Myo; Units of Measure= ng/mL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; Units of Measure= mm/h), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA; Units of Measure= Å) will be considered for analysis of muscle damage markers and will be determined through specific kits and following the manufacturer's instructions.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Heart Rate Variability
Heart rate variability (HRV) will be collected, at rest, through a non-invasive method used to measure cardiac autonomic control, to assess the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and the RR interval will be recorded by a portable heart rate monitor.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
Effort Control Variables: Subjective Perception of Exertion and Lactate Threshold
To estimate the intensity of the exercise, the method proposed by Foster (1998) will be used, which suggests multiplying the subjective perception of exertion (RPE) of the session by the total duration of the training session (sRPE), with the results expressed in arbitrary units (u.a.). To quantify performance during the game, lactate will be collected at the end of each quarter of the game, through blood collections from the earlobe (25 μL) to analyze the peak lactate concentration (\[La-\]peak) of the effort.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 2 weeks
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