EFFECT OF RADIAL EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY ON MUSCLE POWER OUTPUT IN THE MAJOR THIGH MUSCLE GROUPS

Abstract

Background: Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) is widely used in sports medicine for pain relief and functional recovery; however, quantitative evidence regarding its immediate effects on neuromuscular performance in healthy athletes remains limited. Objective: To determine the acute effects of rESWT applied to the mid-quadriceps on isokinetic knee extension and flexion output in female university athletes. Methods: Eleven female university athletes (18–22 years) completed rESWT and control conditions in a within-subject, controlled laboratory design. Isokinetic knee extension and flexion of the right leg were assessed using a Biodex dynamometer at 60°/s (two sets of five maximal concentric repetitions). In the rESWT condition, 3,000 pulses (20 Hz, 3.5 bar) were applied to the mid-belly of the right quadriceps immediately before and after the first set. The control condition followed the same protocol without stimulation. Primary analyses focused on the first set to isolate the effect of the initial rESWT application. Rep-by-rep data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models with participant ID as a random effect. Results: During knee extension, rESWT produced higher Peak Torque (p = 0.00030), Angle at Peak Torque (p = 0.00050), Peak Power (p = 0.00041), Total Work (p = 0.00017), and Peak Torque/BW% (p = 0.00014), with a trend for Time to Peak Torque (p = 0.075). T100, T200, RTD 0–100, and RTD 0–200 did not differ. No significant effects were observed for knee flexion (all p > 0.12). Conclusion: rESWT applied to the quadriceps acutely enhanced isokinetic knee extension output, with no detectable effects on knee flexion or early torque-rise indices.