This study aims to investigate the effect of fatigue on reaction time and the electromyographic activity of selected muscles in martial artists with a history of ACL injury, and to evaluate changes in these variables before and after a fatigue protocol.
Design
This study is a quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest study conducted on 20 eligible martial artists. The fatigue protocol is applied as the intervention, and each participant serves as their own control; therefore, no randomization will be performed.
Settings and conduct
This study is a single-blind pretest–posttest study conducted at the laboratory of Arak University. Selected reaction time will be assessed before and after the fatigue protocol using visual stimuli, and the electromyographic (EMG) activity of four selected lower-limb muscles will be recorded and analyzed before and after the fatigue protocol.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Before the study, 20 martial artists voluntarily completed an informed consent form and a medical history questionnaire, and their information was kept confidential. Inclusion criteria were a grade I ACL injury within the past 6 months and at least 3 years of regular training in Taekwondo or Karate. Exclusion criteria included concurrent knee injuries, history of ACL surgery, neurological disorders, and use of medications affecting neuromuscular function.
Intervention groups
In this study, a group of 20 participants was evaluated. All participants were assessed under both pre-fatigue and post-fatigue conditions. Accordingly, choice reaction time and the electromyographic activity of selected muscles were measured and recorded in both conditions (before and after the fatigue protocol.
Main outcome variables
The primary outcome measures were selected reaction time and the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the selected muscles before and after the fatigue protocol.
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
Effets af fetiuge on RT and EMG in MA
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20251018067670N2
Registration date:2026-08-13, 1405/05/22
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-08-13, 1405/05/22
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-08-13, 1405/05/22
Registrant information
Name
Mohammad amin Emadian
Name of organization / entity
The University
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 86 3277 1471
Email address
mohammadaminemadian@gmail.com
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-08-21, 1405/05/30
Expected recruitment end date
2026-09-06, 1405/06/15
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Effects of fetigue on reaction time and Electromyographie activity in martial artists
Public title
Effects of fetigue on reaction time and Electromyographie activity in martial artists
Purpose
Prevention
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
History of a Grade I anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury within the past six months
Participants who are martial artists
Exclusion criteria:
Concurrent injury in other knee structures
History of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery
Neurological injuries and use of medications affecting neuromuscular performance
Age
From 14 years old to 24 years old
Gender
Male
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Outcome assessor
Sample size
Target sample size:
20
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
N/A
Randomization description
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Single blinded
Blinding description
This study is a quasi-experimental study with a single-group pretest–posttest design. The fatigue protocol was considered the intervention, and each participant served as their own control. A total of 20 participants were assigned to a single group, and comparisons were made within individuals. The injured limb of each participant was compared with their contralateral uninjured limb.
A single-blind design was used in this study. In this type of blinding, the outcome assessors were unaware of the participants’ group allocation to minimize potential measurement bias.
The assessment protocol consisted of a single group, and both selective reaction time and the electrical activity of selected muscles were evaluated during two separate testing sessions. In one session, selective reaction time was assessed before and after the fatigue protocol. In the other session, the electrical activity of the selected muscles was recorded before and after the fatigue protocol.
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Single
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Etics committe Arak University
Street address
ایران ؛ استان مرکزی شهر اراک ، سردشت ، بلوار کربلا دانشگاه سراسری اراک
City
Arak
Province
Markazi
Postal code
3848177584
Approval date
2026-03-16, 1404/12/25
Ethics committee reference number
IR.ARAKU.REC.1404.091
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Type I anterior cruciate ligament injury
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Changes in reaction time and comparison of electrical activity of selected muscles in martial artists
Timepoint
start studying
Method of measurement
To assess choice reaction time, participants will be required to perform the movement technique corresponding to each specific visual stimulus presented on a display screen. In addition, the electrical activity of the selected muscles will be recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG). Muscle activity will be measured during the execution of a specific assessment task consisting of a single-leg landing from a height of 30 cm with the arms crossed over the chest.
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
This study aims to determine the effect of low-grade anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on reaction time and the electrical activity of selected knee-stabilizing muscles, with the ultimate goal of increasing athletes’ awareness of the importance of low-grade ACL injuries.Intervention Group:This study will employ a quasi-experimental, single-group pretest–posttest design. The intervention group will consist of 20 martial artists. Selective reaction time and the electrical activity of selected muscles will be assessed at two time points: before and after the implementation of the fatigue protocol.Control Condition:Since this study uses a single-group design, there will be no separate control group. Instead, the uninjured limb of each participant will serve as the internal control and will be compared with the injured limb. This within-subject comparison will allow the researchers to examine differences between the injured and healthy limbs under the same experimental conditions.Each participant will undergo two separate assessment sessions within one month. In one session, selective reaction time will be assessed before and after the fatigue protocol. In a separate session, the electrical activity of the selected muscles will be recorded before and after the fatigue protocol.Selective reaction time will be evaluated using visual stimuli presented on a computer monitor. The electrical activity of the selected muscles will be assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG).Therefore, the assessment protocol will consist of two separate testing days. On the first day, selective reaction time will be measured before and after fatigue. On the second day, the electrical activity of the selected muscles will be recorded before and after fatigue.
Category
Prevention
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Fateh taekwondo club
Full name of responsible person
mohammad amin emadian
Street address
sport complex 5 mordad
City
اراك
Province
Markazi
Postal code
38166765559
Phone
+98 86 3277 1471
Email
mohammadaminemadian@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Fateh taekwondo club
Full name of responsible person
mohammad amin emadian
Street address
sport complex 5 mordad
City
arak
Province
Markazi
Postal code
38166765559
Phone
+98 86 3277 1471
Email
mohammadaminemadian@gmail.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Fateh taekwondo club
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Private
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Other
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Arak university
Full name of responsible person
mohammad amin emadian
Position
Bachelor
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
sport injury pathology
Street address
sport complex 5 mordad
City
arak
Province
Markazi
Postal code
3816676559
Phone
+98 86 3277 1471
Email
mohammadaminemadian@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
arak university
Full name of responsible person
mohammad amin emadian
Position
bachelor
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
sport injury pathology
Street address
sport complex 5 mordad
City
arak
Province
Markazi
Postal code
3816676559
Phone
+98 86 3277 1471
Email
mohammadaminemadian@gmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
arak univercity
Full name of responsible person
mohammad amin emadian
Position
Bachelor
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
sport injury pathology
Street address
sport complex 5 mordad
City
arak
Province
Markazi
Postal code
3816676559
Phone
+98 86 3277 1471
Email
mohammadaminemadian@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
Only a portion of the data, such as information related to the primary outcome variables of the study, will be shared.
When the data will become available and for how long
Access will begin after the completion of the study.
To whom data/document is available
Individuals working in academic and sports institutions will be included.
Under which criteria data/document could be used
Only data that have been collected and used within the study will be available for use.
From where data/document is obtainable
Sent to the researcher’s email.
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
The email will be sent, and responses will be provided within one month thereafter.