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Recovery Strategies After Simulated 400-meter Sprint in University AthletesARFRNCT07439523

Effect of Combined Active Recovery and Foam Rolling Enhance Lactate Clearance and Reduce Muscle Soreness Following a Simulated Running Competition

A study testing Active Recovery + Foam Rolling and Active Recovery Only in people with Recovery Strategies After Simulated 400-meter Sprint in University Athletes, run by Surabaya State University at 1 site in Indonesia.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study investigates the effects of combining Active Recovery (AR) and Foam Rolling (FR) on blood lactate, heart rate, and muscle soreness in competitive 400-meter sprint athletes. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 23 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Active Recovery + Foam Rolling and Active Recovery Only
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteIndonesia
Study dates
18 Feb 2026to 19 Feb 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 18 to 23 years
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male university athletes specializing in 400-meter sprint.
  • Age between 18 and 23 years.
  • Currently training regularly and free from musculoskeletal injuries.
  • Willing to provide written informed consent

Who cannot join

  • History of cardiovascular, metabolic, or musculoskeletal disorders.
  • Use of performance-enhancing drugs or supplements in the past 3 months.
  • Inability to perform maximal sprint due to injury or other medical conditions.
  • Refusal or inability to provide written informed consent.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Indonesia1 site
  • Universitas Negeri Surabaya - Athletics Track

    Surabaya, East Java

Other trials in Indonesia

About this study

This study investigates the effects of combining Active Recovery (AR) and Foam Rolling (FR) on blood lactate, heart rate, and muscle soreness in competitive 400-meter sprint athletes. Twenty healthy athletes will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Experimental group: Active Recovery + Foam Rolling Control group: Active Recovery only All participants will perform a simulated 400-meter sprint. Following the sprint, both groups perform 5 minutes of light jogging (Active Recovery). Subsequently, participants in the experimental group will perform 10 minutes of foam rolling on the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles.

Read more

Measurements include:

Blood lactate: pre- and post-recovery Heart rate: baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery Muscle soreness (VAS 0-10): quadriceps, hamstring, gastrocnemius at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise The study aims to determine whether adding foam rolling to active recovery improves post-exercise physiological and perceptual recovery markers. Participants will not be informed of their group assignment to reduce bias; only the investigators will know.

All procedures will take place at the Athletics Track, Surabaya State University, Indonesia.

Ethical approval has been obtained from Komite Etik Penelitian Kesehatan STIKES Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta (Ethical Approval No: 009/KEPK/II/2026).

Read the detailed description

Background:

Recovery strategies are crucial in sprinting to restore physiological homeostasis, reduce muscle fatigue, and prevent injury. Active recovery (AR) through light jogging has been shown to facilitate lactate clearance and maintain cardiovascular stability. Foam rolling (FR) has recently gained popularity as a self-myofascial release technique, potentially enhancing recovery by improving blood flow, reducing muscle stiffness, and decreasing perceived soreness. However, evidence in competitive 400-meter sprint athletes remains limited.

Study Design:

This study is a randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms. Twenty competitive 400-meter sprint athletes will be recruited and randomized into:

Experimental group: AR + FR Control group: AR only Randomization will occur prior to the study day. Participants will remain blinded to their group allocation, ensuring unbiased outcome assessment. On the study day, participants perform a 400-meter sprint. Afterward, both groups perform 5 minutes of light jogging (AR). Then, participants in the experimental group continue with 10 minutes of foam rolling on key lower limb muscles (quadriceps, hamstring, gastrocnemius).

Outcome Measures:

Primary Outcomes:

Blood lactate (mmol/L), pre- and post-recovery Heart rate (bpm), baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery

Secondary Outcomes:

Muscle soreness (VAS 0-10), assessed in quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours

Procedures:

Lactate measured via finger-prick using a lactate analyzer Heart rate recorded using Polar H-10 chest strap monitor Muscle soreness assessed using standardized VAS

Study Location:

All procedures will take place at Athletics Track, Surabaya State University, Indonesia.

Ethical Considerations:

This study has received ethical approval from Komite Etik Penelitian Kesehatan STIKES Guna Bangsa Yogyakarta (009/KEPK/II/2026). Participants will provide written informed consent prior to enrollment.

Significance:

This study will provide evidence on whether adding foam rolling to active recovery enhances physiological and perceptual recovery markers in sprint athletes, potentially informing best practices in sprint training and competition recovery protocols.

Being tested
Active Recovery + Foam Rolling, Active Recovery Only
Keywords
Active Recovery, Foam Rolling, Blood Lactate, combination, Heart Rate, Muscle Soreness, Athletics, Quadriceps, Hamstring, Gastrocnemius, Track and Field
Medical subject headings
Myalgia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Active Recovery + Foam RollingBehavioural

    Participants perform a 400-meter sprint followed by 5 minutes of active recovery (light jogging). Subsequently, participants perform 10 minutes of foam rolling on quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles. Blood lactate is measured pre- and post-recovery. Heart rate is recorded at baseline, pre-exercise, and post-recovery using a chest strap monitor. Muscle soreness is assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10) at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise.

  • Active Recovery OnlyBehavioural

    Participants perform a 400-meter sprint followed by 5 minutes of active recovery (light jogging) only. Blood lactate is measured pre- and post-recovery. Heart rate is recorded at baseline, pre-exercise, and post-recovery using a chest strap monitor. Muscle soreness is assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10) at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise.

Study groups in NCT07439523
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Active Recovery + Foam RollingExperimentalParticipants perform a 400-meter sprint followed by 5 minutes of active recovery (light jogging). Subsequently, participants in this group perform 10 minutes of foam rolling focusing on quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles. Blood lactate is measured pre- and post-recovery. Heart rate is recorded at baseline, pre-exercise, and post-recovery using a chest strap monitor. Muscle soreness is assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10) at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise.
Receives: Behavioral: Active Recovery + Foam Rolling
Active Recovery OnlyActive comparatorParticipants perform a 400-meter sprint followed by 5 minutes of active recovery (light jogging) only. Blood lactate is measured pre- and post-recovery. Heart rate is recorded at baseline, pre-exercise, and post-recovery using a chest strap monitor. Muscle soreness is assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10) at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise.
Receives: Behavioral: Active Recovery Only

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Blood Lactate Concentration

    Blood lactate will be measured using a finger-prick lactate analyzer immediately before and after the recovery protocol following a 400-meter sprint.

    Measured: Pre-recovery and post-recovery (15 minutes)

  2. Heart Rate

    Heart rate will be recorded using a Polar H-10 chest strap monitor at baseline, immediately before the sprint, and immediately after the recovery protocol.

    Measured: Baseline, pre-exercise, and post-recovery (15 minutes after completion of recovery protocol)

  3. Muscle Soreness VAS (Quadriceps, Hamstring, Gastrocnemius)

    Muscle soreness will be assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10) for quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius muscles at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise.

    Measured: Baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery (15 minutes after completion of recovery protocol), 1 hour, 24 hours post-exercise

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted27 Feb 2026
  2. Study start18 Feb 2026
  3. Primary completion19 Feb 2026
  4. Study completion19 Feb 2026

Resources

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Experimental group (Active Recovery + Foam Rolling) or Control group (Active Recovery only). Each participant will perform a simulated 400-meter sprint. Blood lactate will be measured pre- and post-recovery using a finger-prick lactate analyzer. Heart rate will be recorded at baseline, pre-exercise, and post-recovery using a Polar H-10. Muscle soreness of the quadriceps, hamstring, and gastrocnemius will be assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10) at baseline, pre-exercise, post-recovery, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-exercise. All procedures will be conducted at the Athletics Track, State University of Surabaya, Indonesia.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07439523
Sponsor's protocol ID
UNESA-ARFR-2026
Acronym
ARFR
Status last verified
May 2026
First submitted
17 Feb 2026
Last updated
7 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data will not be shared due to the small sample size (n=20) and the sensitive nature of physiological and subjective measures, including blood lactate, heart rate, and muscle soreness scores. Data confidentiality and participant privacy will be strictly maintained

Publications

  • Konrad A, Nakamura M, Bernsteiner D, Tilp M. The Accumulated Effects of Foam Rolling Combined with Stretching on Range of Motion and Physical Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sports Sci Med. 2021 Jul 1;20(3):535-545. doi: 10.52082/jssm.2021.535. eCollection 2021 Sep.

    PubMed 34267594
  • Pearcey GE, Bradbury-Squires DJ, Kawamoto JE, Drinkwater EJ, Behm DG, Button DC. Foam rolling for delayed-onset muscle soreness and recovery of dynamic performance measures. J Athl Train. 2015 Jan;50(1):5-13. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-50.1.01. Epub 2014 Nov 21.

    PubMed 25415413
  • Hendricks S, Hill H, Hollander SD, Lombard W, Parker R. Effects of foam rolling on performance and recovery: A systematic review of the literature to guide practitioners on the use of foam rolling. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2020 Apr;24(2):151-174. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.10.019. Epub 2019 Nov 2.

    PubMed 32507141
  • D'Amico A, Paolone V. The Effect of Foam Rolling on Recovery Between two Eight Hundred Metre Runs. J Hum Kinet. 2017 Jun 22;57:97-105. doi: 10.1515/hukin-2017-0051. eCollection 2017 Jun.

    PubMed 28713462
  • Bibic E, Barisic V, Katanic B, Chernozub A, Trajkovic N. Acute Effects of Foam Rolling and Stretching on Physical Performance and Self-Perceived Fatigue in Young Football Players. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2025 Jan 17;10(1):36. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10010036.

    PubMed 39846677
  • Wiewelhove T, Doweling A, Schneider C, Hottenrott L, Meyer T, Kellmann M, Pfeiffer M, Ferrauti A. A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Foam Rolling on Performance and Recovery. Front Physiol. 2019 Apr 9;10:376. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00376. eCollection 2019.

    PubMed 31024339

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Active Recovery + Foam Rolling and Active Recovery Only in people with Recovery Strategies After Simulated 400-meter Sprint in University Athletes, run by Surabaya State University at 1 site in Indonesia.

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 4 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 7 May 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 Indonesia. 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?

Blood Lactate Concentration (time frame: Pre-recovery and post-recovery (15 minutes)). The study lists 3 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 NCT07439523, which also lists 6 linked publications.

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 7 May 2026.

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