WomenEDLMF11NCT07274033
Effect of Manual Lymphatic Drainage on Muscle Fatigue in Female 11-a-side Football Players
A study testing Manual lymphatic draige in people with Women, run by Camilo Jose Cela University at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in accelerating recovery following induced fatigue in female football players. The study integrates objective performance measurements using linear encoders with anthropometric assessments and psychophysiological evaluations. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 16 to 20 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Women
- What is being tested?
- Manual lymphatic draige
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 11 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 17 Nov 2025to 30 Jun 2026
- 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 16 to 20 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female athletes actively participating in 11-a-side football, either federated or official team members.
- Age ≥ 16 years to 20 years old.
- Regular training (≥ 3 sessions per week) or active competition
- No food intake within 3 hours prior to evaluation (to standardize the influence of digestion on performance).
- No acute lower limb injury in the past 3 months.
- Availability to attend all three study visits.
- Signed informed consent; for participants under 18, parental consent is also required.
Who cannot join
- History of deep vein thrombosis
- Decompensated heart failure
- Active lower limb infection
- Pregnancy
- Recent lower limb surgery (< 3 months), or any medical contraindication to receiving manual lymphatic drainage (MLD).
- Failure to comply with the fasting requirement prior to performance testing.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in accelerating recovery following induced fatigue in female football players. The study integrates objective performance measurements using linear encoders with anthropometric assessments and psychophysiological evaluations. It aims to quantify the impact of MLD on neuromuscular recovery, muscle edema, and perceived fatigue, considering sex-specific physiological factors and the influence of sleep and psychological stress. The findings will contribute to developing non-invasive, individualized recovery strategies to enhance performance and reduce injury risk in women's football.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) as a recovery strategy following induced fatigue in female football players. The intervention is applied immediately after a standardized fatigue protocol using a linear encoder to objectively measure performance decline. The study adopts a multidimensional approach, integrating biomechanical, physiological, and psychometric variables to evaluate recovery.
Participants will undergo three experimental sessions involving a fatigue protocol followed by either MLD or control conditions. Performance will be assessed through guided machine squats, measuring the number of repetitions and time until a 20% velocity loss. Thigh circumference will be measured pre- and post-intervention to monitor fluid shifts and potential edema. Subjective recovery perception will be recorded, and emotional state will be evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to explore its influence on fatigue and recovery response.
This trial addresses the need for non-invasive, efficient recovery strategies tailored to female athletes, considering sex-specific physiological and psychological factors. The findings may contribute to optimizing post-exercise recovery protocols and reducing injury risk in women's football.
- Conditions
- Women
- Being tested
- Manual lymphatic draige
- Keywords
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Football, Women
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Manual lymphatic draigeOther
This method, part of complex decongestive physiotherapy, involves gentle massage techniques that stimulate lymphatic circulation and venous return. MLD promotes lymph fluid mobilization, increases lymphangiomotor activity, and has positive effects on the immune system. Its application has shown to reduce limb edema, decrease muscle fatigue, and raise pain thresholds. Moreover, the gentle touch during MLD activates cutaneous receptors that influence the parasympathetic nervous system, producing physiological changes such as reduced heart rate, blood pressure modulation, and increased muscle strength.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group | Experimental | The study consists of three visits. During the first visit, participants are informed about the study, eligibility criteria are verified, informed consent is obtained, and baseline assessments are conducted using psychophysiological questionnaires and thigh circumference measurements. In the second visit, assessments are repeated and fatigue is induced through guided squats at 50-60% of estimated 1RM, monitored via a linear encoder. Fatigue is defined as a 20% loss in execution velocity. Immediately after fatigue induction, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is applied for 10 minutes (5 minutes per quadriceps), following Emil Vodder's standardized technique. Post-intervention, performance testing and measurements are repeated. The third visit, conducted 15 days later, serves as a follow-up to evaluate sustained effects without further intervention, repeating the fatigue protocol and all assessments. Receives: Other: Manual lymphatic draige |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of repetitions
Number of repetitions until 20% velocity loss: recorded via linear encoder during guided squat test.
Measured: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Time to fatigue
Time to fatigue (seconds): total time from first repetition until velocity drops by 20%.
Measured: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Velocity profile
average velocity per repetition, expressed in m/s.
Measured: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Thigh circumference (cm)
measured with a non-elastic tape at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper border of the patella, in both legs, pre- and post-intervention.
Measured: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Perceived fatigue
assessed using Borg CR-10 scale (0 = no fatigue, 10 = maximum fatigue).
Measured: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 moinutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Perceived pain (VAS)
assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain).
Measured: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Perceived recovery (PRS)
assessed using the Perceived Recovery Status Scale (PRS), ranging from 0 (no recovery) to 10 (full recovery).
Measured: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Secondary outcomes (7)
Sleep quality (PSQI)
assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 19-item questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 21 (higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality).
Measured: baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed
Emotional state
assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), comprising 14 items across anxiety and depression subscales (scores range from 0 to 21 per subscale).
Measured: baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed
Sociodemographic Variables
Age, Height, Body weight, Body mass Index
Measured: Baseline
Dominant leg
self-reported (leg used to kick the ball).
Measured: Baseline
Sports experience (years)
total years of systematic football practice.
Measured: baseline
Training frequency (sessions/week)
average number of sessions during the season.
Measured: baseline
Menstrual cycle phase
self-reported, to control for physiological variations in fatigue and recovery.
Measured: baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Dec 2025
- Study start17 Nov 2025
- Primary completion28 Feb 2026
- Study completion30 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for WomenStudies 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
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 11 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Camilo Jose Cela University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Edurne Úbeda D'Ocasar, Camilo Jose Cela University
- Investigators
- Edurne Úbeda Docasar, Doctor, Principal investigator, University Camilo José Cela
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07274033
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UCJCDLMF
- Acronym
- EDLMF11
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 29 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: What IPD Will Be Shared: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) related to primary and secondary outcome measures, including performance metrics (e.g., number of repetitions, velocity profiles), anthropometric data (e.g., thigh circumference), and questionnaire responses (e.g., Borg scale, VAS, PRS, PSQI, HADS). When Will IPD Be Available: IPD will be made available upon publication of the main results or within 12 months after study completion. How Will IPD Be Shared: Data will be shared upon reasonable request to the principal investigator. Access will be granted for academic and non-commercial research purposes, following approval by the ethics committee and under a data-sharing agreement to ensure confidentiality and compliance with GDPR. With Whom: Qualified researchers affiliated with academic institutions or research organizations.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Manual Lymphatic Drainage on Muscle Fatigue in Female 11-a-side Football Players
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07274033
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EDLMF11 / UCJCDLMF
- Conditions
- Women
- Keywords
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Football, Women
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 11 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Camilo Jose Cela UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Dec 2025 (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.
This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) in accelerating recovery following induced fatigue in female football players. The study integrates objective performance measurements using linear encoders with anthropometric assessments and psychophysiological evaluations. It aims to quantify the impact of MLD on neuromuscular recovery, muscle edema, and perceived fatigue, considering sex-specific physiological factors and the influence of sleep and psychological stress. The findings will contribute to developing non-invasive, individualized recovery strategies to enhance performance and reduce injury risk in women's football.
Detailed description
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) as a recovery strategy following induced fatigue in female football players. The intervention is applied immediately after a standardized fatigue protocol using a linear encoder to objectively measure performance decline. The study adopts a multidimensional approach, integrating biomechanical, physiological, and psychometric variables to evaluate recovery.
Participants will undergo three experimental sessions involving a fatigue protocol followed by either MLD or control conditions. Performance will be assessed through guided machine squats, measuring the number of repetitions and time until a 20% velocity loss. Thigh circumference will be measured pre- and post-intervention to monitor fluid shifts and potential edema. Subjective recovery perception will be recorded, and emotional state will be evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to explore its influence on fatigue and recovery response.
This trial addresses the need for non-invasive, efficient recovery strategies tailored to female athletes, considering sex-specific physiological and psychological factors. The findings may contribute to optimizing post-exercise recovery protocols and reducing injury risk in women's football.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group | Experimental | Other: Manual lymphatic draigeThe study consists of three visits. During the first visit, participants are informed about the study, eligibility criteria are verified, informed consent is obtained, and baseline assessments are conducted using psychophysiological questionnaires and thigh circumference measurements. In the second visit, assessments are repeated and fatigue is induced through guided squats at 50-60% of estimated 1RM, monitored via a linear encoder. Fatigue is defined as a 20% loss in execution velocity. Immediately after fatigue induction, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is applied for 10 minutes (5 minutes per quadriceps), following Emil Vodder's standardized technique. Post-intervention, performance testing and measurements are repeated. The third visit, conducted 15 days later, serves as a follow-up to evaluate sustained effects without further intervention, repeating the fatigue protocol and all assessments. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 16 to 20 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Female athletes actively participating in 11-a-side football, either federated or official team members.
- Age ≥ 16 years to 20 years old.
- Regular training (≥ 3 sessions per week) or active competition
- No food intake within 3 hours prior to evaluation (to standardize the influence of digestion on performance).
- No acute lower limb injury in the past 3 months.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- History of deep vein thrombosis
- Decompensated heart failure
- Active lower limb infection
- Pregnancy
- Recent lower limb surgery (< 3 months), or any medical contraindication to receiving manual lymphatic drainage (MLD).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Manual lymphatic draigeThis method, part of complex decongestive physiotherapy, involves gentle massage techniques that stimulate lymphatic circulation and venous return. MLD promotes lymph fluid mobilization, increases lymphangiomotor activity, and has positive effects on the immune system. Its application has shown to reduce limb edema, decrease muscle fatigue, and raise pain thresholds. Moreover, the gentle touch during MLD activates cutaneous receptors that influence the parasympathetic nervous system, producing physiological changes such as reduced heart rate, blood pressure modulation, and increased muscle strength. | Other | Manual Lymphatic Drainage Group |
Primary outcome
Number of repetitions
Time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Number of repetitions until 20% velocity loss: recorded via linear encoder during guided squat test.
Time to fatigue
Time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
Time to fatigue (seconds): total time from first repetition until velocity drops by 20%.
Velocity profile
Time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
average velocity per repetition, expressed in m/s.
Thigh circumference (cm)
Time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
measured with a non-elastic tape at the midpoint between the anterior superior iliac spine and the upper border of the patella, in both legs, pre- and post-intervention.
Perceived fatigue
Time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 moinutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
assessed using Borg CR-10 scale (0 = no fatigue, 10 = maximum fatigue).
Perceived pain (VAS)
Time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain).
Perceived recovery (PRS)
Time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.
assessed using the Perceived Recovery Status Scale (PRS), ranging from 0 (no recovery) to 10 (full recovery).
7 secondary outcomes
Sleep quality (PSQI)
Time frame: baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed
Emotional state
Time frame: baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed
Sociodemographic Variables
Time frame: Baseline
Dominant leg
Time frame: Baseline
Sports experience (years)
Time frame: baseline
Training frequency (sessions/week)
Time frame: baseline
Menstrual cycle phase
Time frame: baseline, after the second procedure and 15 days after the procedure was completed
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 29 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. What IPD Will Be Shared: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) related to primary and secondary outcome measures, including performance metrics (e.g., number of repetitions, velocity profiles), anthropometric data (e.g., thigh circumference), and questionnaire responses (e.g., Borg scale, VAS, PRS, PSQI, HADS). When Will IPD Be Available: IPD will be made available upon publication of the main results or within 12 months after study completion. How Will IPD Be Shared: Data will be shared upon reasonable request to the principal investigator. Access will be granted for academic and non-commercial research purposes, following approval by the ethics committee and under a data-sharing agreement to ensure confidentiality and compliance with GDPR. With Whom: Qualified researchers affiliated with academic institutions or research organizations.
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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.
Edurne Úbeda Docasar, Doctor principal investigator
University Camilo José Cela
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Manual lymphatic draige in people with Women, run by Camilo Jose Cela University 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 7 inclusion and 6 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 29 Jul 2026. 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?
Number of repetitions (time frame: baseline; 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the first procedure, 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after the second procedure, and 15 days after the procedure was completed.). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 29 Jul 2026.