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Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Interventional Ages 18 to 65

Effects of high frequency electrical current on muscle pain and function

Official title: Acute and Chronic Effects of High Frequency RF Electrical Current on Pain and Muscle Function in Individuals With Musculoskeletal Pain

Run by Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki · NCT05345015 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if a new type of electrical therapy called TECAR can help people with muscle pain and movement problems feel better compared to a standard treatment.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
Enrollment200 (estimated)
SponsorAristotle University Of Thessaloniki
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Kavala and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 1, 2022
Main results expectedMay 31, 2028
Study endsDecember 31, 2029
Registry record updatedJune 26, 2026
Trial IDNCT05345015 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include adults over 18 years with acute muscle strain injuries or chronic low back pain.

Probably not a fit

Patients with other musculoskeletal conditions, significant spinal abnormalities, or those on certain medications may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of high frequency electrical current transfer, known as TECAR therapy, on pain and functional movement in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries or chronic low back pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving TECAR therapy or a control group receiving traditional transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS). The study will assess both acute effects immediately after treatment and chronic effects over a period of three to six months through various outcome measures. The goal is to determine the efficacy of TECAR therapy in improving pain and function in affected individuals.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could provide significant pain relief and improved function for patients with muscle injuries and chronic low back pain.

How similar studies have gone: While TECAR therapy is a relatively novel approach, similar studies using electrical stimulation techniques have shown promising results in pain management.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Individuals with Muscle Injury

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age over 18 years.
* Athletes: amateur soccer players or sprinters with regular, systematic training.
* Suspected Grade I or II hamstring strain.
* Cessation of training due to injury.
* No surgical intervention in the previous year (for initial assessment as potential participants).

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of injury to the same muscle (ipsilateral side) within the last 6 months.
* Other injury to the posterior aspect of the thigh.
* Other injuries or chronic pain in the trunk or lower limbs.
* Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the 3 months prior to the injury.

Individuals with Acute Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age over 18 years.
* Pain located between the lower ribs and the gluteal folds (top of the buttocks).
* Pain occurred on fewer than half of the days over the preceding six months.
* Pain intensity $\\ge$ 6/10 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
* Pain related to one or more of the following:

  * Lumbar facet joints
  * Sacroiliac joints
  * Lumbar intervertebral discs
  * Muscles, tendons, or ligaments of the lumbar and sacral region
  * Other bony structures of the lumbar spine
* Discontinuation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or analgesics:

  * 1 day prior to measurement
  * 48 hours after measurement

Exclusion Criteria:

* Radiographic evidence of inflammatory disease affecting the spine.
* Spinal fracture.
* Significant genetic structural abnormality of the spine.
* Pregnancy.
* Psychiatric disorders.
* Receipt of systemic medication or treatment in the last 3 months.
* Presence of neurological deficits (sensory, motor, or reflexes).
* Receipt of TENS or TECAR therapy within the last year.

Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain

Inclusion Criteria:

* Episodes of low back pain (between the lower rib margin and the gluteal fold) for at least half of the days during the last 6 months.
* Pain intensity $\\ge$ 20% on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Spinal stenosis.
* Radiographic evidence of inflammatory disease affecting the spine.
* Vertebral fracture.
* Presence of spondylolisthesis or spondylolytic lesion (spondylolysis).
* Significant genetic structural abnormality of the spine.
* Daily, severe low back pain.
* Pregnancy.
* Use of medications that might influence heart rate or blood pressure.
* Psychiatric disorders.

Where it's running

  • Physiotherapy Clinic
    Kavala, Greece     Recruiting
  • Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
    Serres, Greece     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ Find more trials like this →
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Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.