Human TECAR on Exercise Preconditioning and Post-exercise Recovery

Human TECAR on Exercise Preconditioning and Post-exercise Recovery

TECAR therapy (Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive) is a type of diathermy that uses radiant energy to generate endogenous heat. However, to the date there are no studies investigating the effects of TECAR therapy on exercise preconditioning and post-exercise recovery in humans. Therefore, the aim of this project is to assess the effects of different treatment protocols of TECAR therapy on. exercise preconditioning and post-exercise recovery in humans

Fifty male healthy volunteers will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind (participants and assessors), controlled trial. Volunteers will be allocated in 5 groups of 10 participants each: 1 - Sham-control (fake intervention - massaging with one of the Human TECAR probes with the device turned off before or after the eccentric exercise protocol depending on randomization); 2 - Capacitive mode before exercise (preconditioning); 3 - Resistive mode before exercise (preconditioning); 4 - Capacitive mode after exercise (recovery); and 5 - Resistive mode after exercise (recovery). The treatment target will be the knee extensors muscles (quadriceps).

A standardized knee extension eccentric exercise protocol performed in the isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex System 4) will be used in order to exercise induce skeletal muscle fatigue and damage.

Volunteers will be treated with Human TECAR in a single treatment session, with 10 minutes length, that will be carried out immediately before or immediately after the exercise protocol according to the randomization.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Physically active male participants;
• Do not present a history of musculoskeletal injury in the regions of the hips, knees and calves in the month preceding the study;
• Are not using pharmacological agents;
• Voluntarily commit to participate in all stages of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Present musculoskeletal or joint injuries during data collection;
• Present history of musculoskeletal injury in the regions of the hips, knees and calves in the month preceding the study.