Percussive massage effects on calf muscle structure
Official title: Acute Effects of Percussive Massage Therapy Applied to Healthy Individuals on Gastrocnemius Muscle Architecture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Karadeniz Technical University · NCT07367243 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether percussive massage applied to the calves changes muscle thickness, pennation angle, or fascicle length in healthy adults aged 18–30.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Karadeniz Technical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Trabzon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 17, 2025 |
| Main results expected | February 10, 2026 |
| Study ends | February 10, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | January 26, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07367243 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy adults 18–30 years old with BMI under 25, no recent surgeries or hospitalizations, no current medications, and no neurological, orthopedic, rheumatologic, or cardiopulmonary conditions.
✕Probably not a fit
People older than 30, with BMI ≥25, recent surgery or hospitalization, chronic diseases, current health complaints, or recent medication use are unlikely to match the study population and may not benefit from the findings.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants aged 18–30 will be randomly assigned to receive a single session of percussive massage therapy (PMT) to the plantar flexor muscles or a control condition. Ultrasonographic measurements of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles will be taken immediately before and after the intervention to quantify muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length. The protocol examines acute, short-term architectural changes following one PMT application. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria (including BMI <25 and no recent surgeries, hospitalizations, medications, or systemic diseases) are applied to select a healthy volunteer population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify immediate structural effects of percussive massage and help guide its use for recovery or performance in healthy young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies on manual massage and mechanical vibration have shown short-term changes in muscle tone or architecture, but percussive massage therapy specifically is relatively novel with limited direct evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged between 18 and 30 years Exclusion Criteria: * History of any surgical procedure * Hospitalization for any reason within the last two years * Hospital admission for treatment purposes within the last six months * Use of any medication within the last three months * History of congenital, neurological, orthopedic, rheumatologic, or cardiopulmonary pathology or anomaly * Presence of any known serious systemic disease * Current health-related complaints or symptoms * Body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or higher
Where it's running
-
Karadeniz Technical University
Trabzon, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Murat Emirzeoglu, PhD
- Email: muratemirzeoglu@ktu.edu.tr
- Phone: +904623774270
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.