Acute Effects of Patellar Tendon Ultrasound on Countermovement Jump Performance
ConditionMuscle Performance
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-35
SponsorMuş Alparslan University
About this trial
This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial aims to investigate the acute effects of therapeutic ultrasound applied to the patellar tendon on vertical jump performance in healthy university students. Therapeutic ultrasound is widely used in physiotherapy to influence soft tissue properties through thermal and mechanical effects; however, its immediate impact on explosive lower-extremity performance and neuromuscular function remains unclear.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either a therapeutic ultrasound group or a sham ultrasound (placebo) group. In the intervention group, therapeutic ultrasound will be applied to the patellar tendon using a frequency of 1 MHz and an intensity of 1.5 W/cm² in continuous mode for 5 minutes. In the control group, a sham ultrasound procedure will be performed using the same device and duration without delivering therapeutic energy. Both the participants and the outcome assessor will be blinded to group allocation.
Vertical jump performance will be evaluated using the countermovement jump (CMJ) test recorded with the My Jump 2 smartphone application. In addition, quadriceps muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer, and knee joint position sense will be assessed using a joint position reproduction test. All measurements will be conducted before and immediately after the intervention.
This study will provide evidence regarding whether therapeutic ultrasound applied to the patellar tendon can acutely influence explosive performance, muscle strength, and proprioception in healthy individuals.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Healthy university students aged 18-35 years
No history of lower extremity injury or surgery in the past 12 months
No current musculoskeletal or neurological disorders affecting the lower limbs
Disqualifiers
History of patellar tendon injury or knee pain
Contraindications to therapeutic ultrasound (e.g., skin lesions, open wounds at the knee, or implanted electronic devices)
Any cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal condition that may affect jump performance
Use of medications that could affect neuromuscular function (e.g., muscle relaxants)
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
therapeutic ultrasound Group
Other interventionThe use of therapeutic ultrasound on the patellar tendon in healthy individuals.
Treatment groups
40 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Ultrasound GroupActive comparator 1 intervention
Group B: sham GroupSham comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Countermovement Jump Height
Vertical jump performance will be assessed using the countermovement jump (CMJ) test recorded with the My Jump 2 smartphone application. Participants will perform three maximal jumps with their hands placed on their hips to eliminate arm swing, and the highest jump height (cm) will be used for analysis.
Time frame
Immediately before and immediately after the intervention (within 1 minute following the ultrasound or sham ultrasound application)Secondary outcomes
1
Knee Joint Position Sense
Knee joint position sense will be assessed using a joint position reproduction test to evaluate proprioception. Participants will actively reproduce a predetermined knee flexion angle without visual feedback, and the absolute angular error (degrees) between the target and reproduced position will be recorded.
Time frame
Immediately before and immediately after the intervention2
Quadriceps Muscle Strength
Quadriceps muscle strength will be measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Participants will perform maximal voluntary isometric knee extension while seated with the knee flexed at 90 degrees. The highest value obtained from three trials will be recorded in kilograms (kg) for analysis.
Time frame
Immediately before and immediately after the interventionLocations
Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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