# Evaluation of Muscle Oxygenation Responses to Eccentric Exercise and Recovery Enhancement Using Capacitive–Resistive Electric Transfer and Vibration Therapy

## TL;DR

This study compares how TECAR and vibration therapy affect muscle oxygenation after intense exercise, finding both helpful for recovery.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is evaluating TECAR and vibration therapy's impact on muscle oxygenation recovery after eccentric exercise in young adults.

## Key findings

- Both TECAR and vibration therapy improved muscle oxygenation during early recovery after eccentric exercise.
- No significant differences were found between TECAR and vibration therapy in recovery metrics like mVO2 and ΔtHb.
- Vibration therapy showed a tendency for greater ΔSmO2 decrease, but the difference was not statistically significant.

## Abstract

Background: Although Capacitive–Resistive Electric Transfer (TECAR) and vibration therapy (VT) are increasingly used in sports recovery, their effects on muscle oxygenation remain unclear. Objectives: This study compared the short-term influence of TECAR and VT on muscle oxygenation following eccentric exercise in young, active adults. We hypothesized that both interventions would support early metabolic recovery, as reflected by changes in muscle oxygenation, and potentially reduce the risk of musculoskeletal overuse. Methods: Forty-one young, recreationally active adults (age: 19 ± 2 years; height: 168 ± 9 cm; body mass: 63 ± 13 kg) were randomized into two groups: TECAR therapy and VT. Muscle oxygenation was assessed at baseline, post-exercise, and post-intervention using the arterial occlusion method with a MOXY muscle oxygenation monitor (Fortiori Design LLC, USA). The primary variables were mVO2 (muscle oxygen consumption), ΔSmO2 (change in oxygen saturation during occlusion), and ΔtHb (change in hemoglobin level during occlusion). Data were analyzed using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with post hoc Tukey tests, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Eccentric exercise significantly reduced mVO2 in both groups (VT: −0.18 ± 0.40 to −1.62 ± 0.70; TECAR: −0.12 ± 0.40 to −1.24 ± 0.70), indicating decreased metabolic demand. Following recovery, mVO2 increased in both groups (VT: −0.86 ± 0.50; TECAR: −0.35 ± 0.40), with no significant between-group differences (p > 0.05). ΔSmO2 also decreased after exercise (VT: −0.7 ± 0.4 to −3.2 ± 0.9; TECAR: −0.9 ± 0.6 to −3.45 ± 0.7). After recovery, ΔSmO2 partially returned to baseline (VT: −2.6 ± 0.8; TECAR: −1.35 ± 0.4), with no significant between-group differences. ΔtHb increased following exercise in both groups (VT: 0.03 ± 0.04 to 0.13 ± 0.09; TECAR: 0.03 ± 0.04 to 0.15 ± 0.07) and decreased after recovery to similar levels (VT: −0.05 ± 0.05; TECAR: −0.06 ± 0.04; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Both TECAR and VT were associated with improved muscle oxygenation during early recovery after eccentric exercise, as reflected by increases in mVO2 and comparable ΔtHb responses. Although ΔSmO2 tended to decrease more after VT, this difference was not statistically significant and should be interpreted cautiously. Overall, both modalities appear to be effective recovery-supporting strategies, while further controlled studies are needed to clarify their role in different athletic populations and exercise contexts.