Ongoing Clinical Trials for Muscle Strain
Currently, there is 1 ongoing clinical trial investigating new treatment approaches for muscle strain. This trial is evaluating whether Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help athletes and military personnel recover faster from acute hamstring injuries, a common type of muscle strain affecting the back of the thigh.
Clinical trial locations
- Netherlands
Study on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Acute Hamstring Injury in Athletes and Military Personnel
This clinical trial is investigating whether a treatment called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help people recover faster from acute hamstring injuries. A hamstring injury is a sudden strain or tear in the muscles at the back of the thigh, often occurring during activities like sprinting, jumping, or sudden changes in direction. The injury typically causes sharp pain, swelling, and difficulty moving or bending the knee.
Who can participate:
- Adults between 18 and 65 years old
- Athletes or military personnel with a clinical diagnosis of an acute hamstring injury that occurred 7 days ago or less
- Individuals experiencing sudden onset of pain in the back of the thigh, with pain when touching the hamstring muscle, pain when lifting the leg straight while lying down, and increased pain when trying to contract the muscle
- Those who can start the therapy within 7 days of the injury
- Participants must provide informed consent and understand the study requirements
Who cannot participate:
- Individuals without an acute hamstring injury
- People outside the specified age range
- Those who are not athletes or military personnel
- Individuals who cannot safely undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- People who belong to vulnerable populations requiring special protection
What the trial involves:
The treatment consists of seven daily sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. During these sessions, participants breathe pure oxygen in a pressurized room or chamber. The therapy uses medicinal oxygen called Conoxia, which is delivered in two forms: compressed gas and cryogenic (extremely cold) liquid, both administered through inhalation.
The main goal of the trial is to measure how quickly participants can return to their normal activities. For athletes, this means returning to play, and for military personnel, this means returning to full unrestricted duty. The researchers will compare recovery times between those receiving the oxygen therapy and those receiving standard care.
Throughout the study, several aspects of recovery will be monitored, including:
- Pain levels at rest and during activities like sprinting, measured using a visual scale
- Physical examinations to evaluate pain, flexibility, and strength of the hamstring
- MRI scans to visualize and analyze the injury
- Patient-reported scores about activity levels and functional abilities
- The number of re-injuries occurring at 2 months and 12 months after returning to activities
- Any adverse events from the start of treatment until 7 days after the last session
The therapy works by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, which may help reduce swelling and inflammation while promoting tissue repair. This approach aims to speed up the natural healing process and potentially allow injured individuals to return to their activities more quickly than with standard care alone.
Summary
Currently, only one clinical trial is actively recruiting participants for muscle strain treatment, specifically focusing on acute hamstring injuries in the Netherlands. This trial represents a focused effort to explore whether Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can provide meaningful benefits for a specific population—athletes and military personnel—who often need to return to full physical activity as quickly and safely as possible. The trial’s approach of using pressurized oxygen therapy represents an alternative to traditional rest and rehabilitation methods. The study’s comprehensive monitoring of recovery through pain assessments, physical examinations, MRI imaging, and long-term follow-up for re-injuries will provide valuable information about both the immediate and lasting effects of this treatment approach.