SoccerNCT04716049
Effectiveness of Recovery Protocols in Elite Professional Young Soccer Players
A study testing Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWI and Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWI in people with Soccer and Physical Stress, run by University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
The main objective of this project is to compare two recovery protocols, including nutritional and neuromuscular strategies on inmune, physiological and muscular responses. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Soccer, Physical Stress, Fatigue
- What is being tested?
- Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWI and Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWI
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 3 Sep 2021to 6 Sep 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Elite young professional football players
- 75 minutes (at least) of game participation
Who cannot join
- Goalkeepers
- Injured players
- Players unable to perform at their best
- Players under medication
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Spain1 site
Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya
Vic, Barcelona, 08500
About this study
Official title: The Effectiveness of Two Different Combinations of Recovery Methods in Elite Professional Young Soccer Players: a RCT
The main objective of this project is to compare two recovery protocols, including nutritional and neuromuscular strategies on inmune, physiological and muscular responses.
Read the detailed description
A randomized controlled trial will be performed and players will be assigned in one of the two groups after their participation in a football game. The investigators will take baseline measures before the game and post-competition measures immediately after (after recovery intervention) and at 24, 36, 48 hours after the recovery intervention.
- Conditions
- Soccer, Physical Stress, Fatigue
- Being tested
- Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWI, Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWI
- Keywords
- performance, recovery, fatigue, soccer
- Medical subject headings
- Fatigue
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWIOther
Combination of recovery strategies including dietary, neuromuscular and physiological as follows:
Powerade©: players will drink 500 mL during the game
Carbohydrate and protein (CHP): players will drink 250 mL of water with CHP within 30 minutes after the end of the game.
Tart cherry concentrate (CJ): players will drink 30 mL of CJ within 30 minutes after the end of the game.
Foam roller (FR): players will follow FR protocol using a polyvinylchloride pipe roller. They will begin with the FR at the most proximal portion of the muscle and to roll as much body mass as tolerable back and forth at a cadence of 1 second superior and 1 second inferior for 45 seconds followed by a 15-second rest for each muscle group (quadriceps, adductors, hamstrings, abductors and calf) in each extremity and repeated once.
Cold Water Immersion (CWI): will be the last strategy used. Players will immerse their lower body to the level of hips for 10 minutes in cold water (13-14°C).
Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWIOther
Combination of recovery strategies including dietary, neuromuscular and physiological as follows:
Powerade©: players will drink 500 mL of "Powerade©" during the game
Carbohydrate and protein intake (CHP): players will drink 250 mL of water with CHP within 30 minutes after the end of the competition.
Stretching (STR): players will perform 10-min of static stretching, involving 2 unilateral repetitions of 30 seconds held stretches to the quadriceps, adductors, hamstrings, abductors and calf muscles.
Intermittent Cold-Water Immersion (ICWI): will be the last strategy used. It will consist of five 2 min intermittent immersions of the lower limb (up to the iliac crest) in a cold-water bath (13-14ºC), separated by 2 min rest in ambient air. Ice will be added to the bath at regular intervals to maintain water temperature at 13-14ºC. Players will be instructed to stand in the bath, with as little movement as possible.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol I | Experimental | Powerade© Carbohydrates+Protein Cherry Juice Foam Roller Cold Water Immersion Receives: Other: Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWI |
| Protocol II | Experimental | Powerade@ Carbohydrates+Protein Stretching Intermittent Cold-Water Immersion Receives: Other: Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWI |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Neuromuscular or physical performance measures change: jump height
Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) will be performed to determine the maximum height in centimeters (cm). From standing position with the hands fixed on the hips, participants will be required to bend their knees to a freely chosen angle and perform a maximal vertical jump. Participants will be instructed to keep their body vertical throughout the jump, and to land with knees fully extended. Any jump that will be perceived to deviate from the required instructions will be repeated. Players will jump 3 times as high as possible and the average of the three jumps will be used in subsequent analysis. A 30-s passive recovery phase will be provided between jumps.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Neuromuscular or physical performance measures change: maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)
Isometric Hamstring Strength (IHS). Players will be in a supine position, with the tested leg strapped around the ankle (in a neutral position) and performed a hip extension (with a slight knee flexion 20º, while the non-dominant leg was resting on the floor). Players will place their hands on the wall to avoid sliding on the floor. A strain gauge will be placed between the ankle strap and the cord to evaluate the force (MVIC) exerted at a sampling frequency of 80Hz (Chronojump, Boscosystem®️, Barcelona, Spain).
The tester will give all participants the same instructions; "to exert maximal force down to the floor" and continuous and standardized verbal motivation for 5 seconds. Each limb will be tested 3 times, in a randomized order. The assessment of both legs will be separated by 30 seconds while the time separating two trials of the same leg will be 60 seconds . The MVIC will be tested and measured in Newtons (N).
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: creatine kinase
Creatine Kinase (CK): units/L
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: mioglobin
Mioglobin: n/mol/L
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: urea
Urea: umol/L or mg/dL
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: ions
Na and K ions: mmol/L
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Secondary outcomes (7)
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: internal rotation of the hip
Internal rotation of the hip test will be performed to determine the maximum rotation (º) degrees of this joint. Players will lie down (prone position), with legs stretched out. They will put their leg at 90 degrees and allow that leg to flop out to the side, making sure to keep the opposite hip firmly on the ground. From here, the angle that their leg can rest outward will be assessed. It will be performed and recorded two times for each leg and the average will be used.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: ankle dorsiflexion degrees
Ankle dorsiflexion test will be performed to determine the maximum range of movement of this joint. This test needs to be done against a wall. Players will be asked to place their foot in a way that an imaginary line drawn through the heel and big toe will be aligned on the tape measure on the floor. Players will be instructed to lunge forward until their knee touches the wall. The heel will be required to remain in contact with the floor at all times. The foot will be moved away from the wall to the point where the knee will only make slight contact with the wall. The leg not being tested will rest on the floor and participants won't be allowed to hold onto the wall for support. The dorsiflexion range of movement will be measured in degrees (º) and the average of two attempts will be used.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: hamstrings extension ASLR
Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR) test will be performed to determine the maximum extension (º) degrees of this muscle group. Players will lie down (supine position), with the knees over the mat. Once positioned, the players will be asked to slowly raise their limb with the knee fully extended and the ankle in maximal dorsiflexion. During the test, the non-tested limb will keep on the mat, with the ankle in maximum dorsiflexion and the head on the ground. When the maximum ROM will be reached, the angle that their leg will achieve will be assessed. It will be performed and recorded two times for each leg and the average of two attempts will be used.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: hamstrings extension Jurdan
Jurdan Test will be performed. Initially, the player will be in supine in a similar position to the modified Thomas test but will be asked to complete an active knee extension (holding the thigh at 90°) while holding the table and holding the lumbar spine in contact with the table. The lumbar position will be verified kinaesthetically by the practitioner in the starting position and visually during execution. Maintenance of the thigh angle at around 90° for the active knee extension during testing will be visually verified. The result will be defined as the difference between the actively lengthened legs shin angle and the opposite legs passive thigh angle (which is hanging over the table's edge). Both angles (º degrees) will be measured relative to horizontal. It will be performed and recorded two times for each leg and the average of the two attempts will be used.
Measured: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Subjective perceptual/well-being questionnaire measures change: McLean
The questionnaire (McLean et al. 2010) will assess participants' fatigue, sleep quality, general muscle soreness, stress levels and mood on a five-point scale (scores of 1 to 5, 0.5 point increments, being 5 the best state and 0 the worst). Overall well-being will then be determined by summing the five scores.
Measured: Baseline, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Subjective perceptual/well-being questionnaire measures change: recovery
Total Quality Recovery Perceived (TQRper) using a 10 point Borg scale (being 0 extremely tired/very poorly recovered and 10 highly energetic/very well recovered) will also be recorded.
Measured: Baseline, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Subjective perceptual/well-being questionnaire measures change: RPE
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) using the Foster 0-10 scale (being 0 no exertion and 10 maximal exertion) will also be recorded. Players will respond one simple question: How hard was your session? Each player will complete the 0-to-10 scale without the presence of other players and will not see the values of other participants. Players will be allowed to mark a plus sign (interpreted as 0.5 point) alongside the integer value
Measured: After intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jan 2021
- Study start3 Sep 2021
- Primary completion6 Sep 2021
- Study completion6 Sep 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for SoccerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Albert Altarriba-Bartes, Principal investigator, UVic-UCC
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04716049
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RCTREC001
- Status last verified
- Sep 2021
- First submitted
- 12 Jan 2021
- Last updated
- 16 Sep 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
McLean BD, Coutts AJ, Kelly V, McGuigan MR, Cormack SJ. Neuromuscular, endocrine, and perceptual fatigue responses during different length between-match microcycles in professional rugby league players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2010 Sep;5(3):367-83. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.5.3.367.
PubMed 20861526
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Sep 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effectiveness of Two Different Combinations of Recovery Methods in Elite Professional Young Soccer Players: a RCT
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04716049
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RCTREC001
- Conditions
- Soccer, Physical Stress, Fatigue
- Keywords
- performance, recovery, fatigue, soccer
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Vic - Central University of CataloniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 3 Sep 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Sep 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 6 Sep 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The main objective of this project is to compare two recovery protocols, including nutritional and neuromuscular strategies on inmune, physiological and muscular responses.
Detailed description
A randomized controlled trial will be performed and players will be assigned in one of the two groups after their participation in a football game. The investigators will take baseline measures before the game and post-competition measures immediately after (after recovery intervention) and at 24, 36, 48 hours after the recovery intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol I | Experimental | Other: Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWIPowerade© Carbohydrates+Protein Cherry Juice Foam Roller Cold Water Immersion |
| Protocol II | Experimental | Other: Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWIPowerade@ Carbohydrates+Protein Stretching Intermittent Cold-Water Immersion |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Elite young professional football players
- 75 minutes (at least) of game participation
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Goalkeepers
- Injured players
- Players unable to perform at their best
- Players under medication
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWICombination of recovery strategies including dietary, neuromuscular and physiological as follows: Powerade©: players will drink 500 mL during the game Carbohydrate and protein (CHP): players will drink 250 mL of water with CHP within 30 minutes after the end of the game. Tart cherry concentrate (CJ): players will drink 30 mL of CJ within 30 minutes after the end of the game. Foam roller (FR): players will follow FR protocol using a polyvinylchloride pipe roller. They will begin with the FR at the most proximal portion of the muscle and to roll as much body mass as tolerable back and forth at a cadence of 1 second superior and 1 second inferior for 45 seconds followed by a 15-second rest for each muscle group (quadriceps, adductors, hamstrings, abductors and calf) in each extremity and repeated once. Cold Water Immersion (CWI): will be the last strategy used. Players will immerse their lower body to the level of hips for 10 minutes in cold water (13-14°C). | Other | Protocol I |
| Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWICombination of recovery strategies including dietary, neuromuscular and physiological as follows: Powerade©: players will drink 500 mL of "Powerade©" during the game Carbohydrate and protein intake (CHP): players will drink 250 mL of water with CHP within 30 minutes after the end of the competition. Stretching (STR): players will perform 10-min of static stretching, involving 2 unilateral repetitions of 30 seconds held stretches to the quadriceps, adductors, hamstrings, abductors and calf muscles. Intermittent Cold-Water Immersion (ICWI): will be the last strategy used. It will consist of five 2 min intermittent immersions of the lower limb (up to the iliac crest) in a cold-water bath (13-14ºC), separated by 2 min rest in ambient air. Ice will be added to the bath at regular intervals to maintain water temperature at 13-14ºC. Players will be instructed to stand in the bath, with as little movement as possible. | Other | Protocol II |
Primary outcome
Neuromuscular or physical performance measures change: jump height
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) will be performed to determine the maximum height in centimeters (cm). From standing position with the hands fixed on the hips, participants will be required to bend their knees to a freely chosen angle and perform a maximal vertical jump. Participants will be instructed to keep their body vertical throughout the jump, and to land with knees fully extended. Any jump that will be perceived to deviate from the required instructions will be repeated. Players will jump 3 times as high as possible and the average of the three jumps will be used in subsequent analysis. A 30-s passive recovery phase will be provided between jumps.
Neuromuscular or physical performance measures change: maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Isometric Hamstring Strength (IHS). Players will be in a supine position, with the tested leg strapped around the ankle (in a neutral position) and performed a hip extension (with a slight knee flexion 20º, while the non-dominant leg was resting on the floor). Players will place their hands on the wall to avoid sliding on the floor. A strain gauge will be placed between the ankle strap and the cord to evaluate the force (MVIC) exerted at a sampling frequency of 80Hz (Chronojump, Boscosystem®️, Barcelona, Spain). The tester will give all participants the same instructions; "to exert maximal force down to the floor" and continuous and standardized verbal motivation for 5 seconds. Each limb will be tested 3 times, in a randomized order. The assessment of both legs will be separated by 30 seconds while the time separating two trials of the same leg will be 60 seconds . The MVIC will be tested and measured in Newtons (N).
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: creatine kinase
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Creatine Kinase (CK): units/L
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: mioglobin
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Mioglobin: n/mol/L
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: urea
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Urea: umol/L or mg/dL
Biochemical/Physiological measures change: ions
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Na and K ions: mmol/L
7 secondary outcomes
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: internal rotation of the hip
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: ankle dorsiflexion degrees
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: hamstrings extension ASLR
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Range Of Movement (ROM) measures change: hamstrings extension Jurdan
Time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Subjective perceptual/well-being questionnaire measures change: McLean
Time frame: Baseline, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Subjective perceptual/well-being questionnaire measures change: recovery
Time frame: Baseline, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Subjective perceptual/well-being questionnaire measures change: RPE
Time frame: After intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Sep 2021.
- Results publication: PubMed 20861526McLean BD, Coutts AJ, Kelly V, McGuigan MR, Cormack SJ. Neuromuscular, endocrine, and perceptual fatigue responses during different length between-match microcycles in professional rugby league players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2010 Sep;5(3):367-83. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.5.3.367.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Albert Altarriba-Bartes principal investigator
UVic-UCC
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Powerade©, CHP, CJ, FR, CWI and Powerade©, CHP, STR, ICWI in people with Soccer and Physical Stress, run by University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia at 1 site in Spain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Sep 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Neuromuscular or physical performance measures change: jump height (time frame: Baseline, Immediately after intervention, 24 hours after intervention, 48 hours after intervention, 72 hours after intervention). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04716049, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Sep 2021; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.