NCT07438197: TENS-FR-VB

TENS Versus Foam Rolling for Muscle Recovery After Eccentric Exercise in Elite Female Volleyball Players

Completed NA Last updated 3 March 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in 30 participants. Completed in 30 December 2020.

Timeline

1 September 2020

Primary endpoint
1 September 2020

30 December 2020

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Sistan and Baluchestan
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	single
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	30
Start date	1 September 2020
Primary completion	1 September 2020
Estimated completion	30 December 2020
Sites	1 location across Iran

Drugs / interventions tested

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
• Foam Rolling (FR)

Conditions studied

• Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) — all drugs for Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) →
• Exercise-induced Muscle Damage — all drugs for Exercise-induced Muscle Damage →
• Muscle Recovery — all drugs for Muscle Recovery →
• Athletic Injuries — all drugs for Athletic Injuries →

Sponsor

University of Sistan and Baluchestan

Who can join

Adults 18 to 28, female only, with Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) or Exercise-induced Muscle Damage. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Purpose:

This study compared two recovery methods-transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and foam rolling (FR)-for muscle recovery after intense exercise in elite female volleyball players.

Background:

Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is common after intense training and can reduce athletic performance. TENS uses mild electrical currents applied through the skin to reduce pain and improve blood flow. Foam rolling uses a cylindrical device to apply pressure to muscles. Both methods are widely used by athletes, but no previous study has directly compared them in elite female volleyball players.

Participants:

Thirty elite female volleyball players from Iran's Premier League, aged 18-28 years, with at least five years of competitive experience.

Procedures:

Participants completed a demanding lower-body exercise protocol designed to induce muscle soreness. They were then randomly assigned to one of three groups:

TENS group: received electrical stimulation to thigh muscles for 20 minutes Foam rolling group: performed self-massage with a foam roller for 20 minutes Control group: rested quietly for 20 minutes Interventions were applied 30 minutes after exercise and repeated 24 hours later.

Outcomes Measured:

Blood marker of muscle damage (creatine kinase \[CK\]) Vertical jump height Anaerobic sprint power Muscle soreness Measurements were taken before exercise and at 1, 24, and 48 hours afterward.

Hypothesis:

Both active recovery methods would reduce muscle damage markers and preserve jumping ability better than passive rest, with TENS potentially providing faster benefits.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. TENS versus foam rolling for recovery after eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage in elite female volleyball players: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.
   Shahnavazi S, Rezaeipour M, Mir A. · · 2026 · PMID 42237418 · DOI 10.1186/s13102-026-01782-x