Massage vs foam rolling: which boosts heart recovery after a sprint test?
NCT ID NCT07648966
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Sep 03, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study compares the immediate effects of manual massage and foam rolling on heart rate variability (HRV) after a 20-meter shuttle run test in elite male handball players. Fifteen players with at least five years of training and Super League experience took part. The goal is to see which recovery method helps the heart return to a resting state more effectively after high-intensity exercise.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Manual massage and foam rolling
- What this could lead to
- If one method proves better, it could guide athletes and trainers on the best recovery technique after intense exercise.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small study with only 15 elite male handball players, so results may not apply to other athletes or the general public.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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15 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2025
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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17 to 30 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male handball players competing in the Turkish Handball Super League * At least 5 years of regular handball training experience * Participation in at least 10 official matches during the previous 12 months * Minimum 1 year of playing experience in the Turkish Handball Super League * No injury resulting in an interruption of training or competition for more than 2 weeks during the previous 6 months * No use of stimulants, ergogenic aids, or prohibited performance-enhancing substances Exclusion Criteria: * Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting training or match participation * History of surgery to the lower or upper extremities within the previous 12 months * Presence of cardiovascular, neurological, or metabolic disorders * Use of medications that may affect physical performance or neuromuscular function * Inability to complete the study procedures or testing protocol * Withdrawal of informed consent
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Bursa uludag University, Faculty of Sport Sciences
Bursa, 16059, Turkey (Türkiye)
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