Scientific Research : Official Pilot Trial

Achieving adequate recovery from exhaustive bouts of exercise and training is integral to optimal sports performance. Qilta Sport™ is a means of applying proprietary Qilta Formulations against the skin till fully absorbed which is designed to enhance athletes’ preparation for and recovery from exhaustive bouts of exercise and training. An independent research group in UCD, Dublin designed and conducted a pilot trial to evaluated the efficacy of Qilta Sport™ to enhance athletes’ self-reported recovery from exhaustive exercise.

Conflict of Interest Statement:
Qilta Sport™ staff had no influence on the design or conduct of the pilot trial. Neither were they involved in the analysis or interpretation of the pilot trial data. Their only involvement was the supply of product to the independent researchers in UCD.

Scientific Trial : Methods

1. Seven athletes participated in a randomized, double double-blind (participant blinding and assessor blinding), controlled pilot crossover trial. On two separate occasions separated by a minimum of 1-week, each participant performed a maximum exhaustive inclined treadmill run (Astrand treadmill test) followed immediately by 90 double double-leg calf raises (3 sets of 15 reps with straight knees and 3 sets of 15 reps with bent knees) with a time under tension for each rep of 4 seconds.

2. Following the completion of this protocol participants were required to were Qilta Sport™ socks and calf sleeves for the next 10 hours. The control condition consisted of wearing the Qilta Sport™ socks and calf sleeves without any applied formula.

3. The experimental condition consisted of wearing the Qilta Sport™ socks and calf sleeves with the formula applied. The order of the control and experimental condition was randomized for each participant. The primary outcome measure was participants’ self-perceived recovery, assessed by the Global Rate of Change (GRoC) scale.

4. The secondary outcome measure was participants’ self-reported pain in the calf muscles, assessed by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Participant’s self-reported recovery and self-reported pain were assessed at 12-, 24-, 36-, and 48 48-hours postpost-exercise.

Scientific Trial : Results

  • Figure 1

    “At all all-time points following completion of the exhaustive exercise protocol, the experimental condition, on average, recorded a higher GRoC scale score, indicating a more beneficial effect on participants’ self-reported recovery compared to the control condition (see Figure 1).

  • Figure 2

    At all all-time points following completion of the exhaustive exercise protocol, the experimental condition, on average, recorded a lower NPRS score, indicating a more beneficial reduction in postpost-exercise pain compared to the control condition (see Figure 2).”

Scientific Trial : Conclusion

  • This pilot trial demonstrates the potential positive benefits of using Qilta Sport™ immediately following the completion of an exhaustive bout of exercise. Further adequately powered research is warranted to investigate the effects of Qilta Sport™ on athletes’ self self-perceived recovery from exhaustive bouts of exercise and training.”

  • Professor Eamonn Delahunt,
    PhD, BSc, ProfDip University Teaching & Learning
    CORU Registered Physiotherapist PT035795

    TEL: 00 353 1 7166671
    EMAIL: eamonn.delahunt@ucd.ie

    UCD webpage: https://people.ucd.ie/eamonn.Delahunt

    Publications: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=t9j51zsAAAAJ&hl=en