Effects of Passive Recovery Methods After High-Intensity Cycling Exercise

This randomized crossover trial will investigate the acute effects of five passive recovery interventions following a standardized high-intensity cycling exercise protocol. Participants will complete the standardized high-intensity cycling exercise protocol during five separate study sessions. Immediately after each exercise session, participants will receive one of five recovery interventions: compression therapy, vacuum therapy, kinesiology taping, passive rest, or classical massage. The order of the interventions will be randomized according to a balanced crossover sequence. Each participant will experience all five recovery interventions during the study period. Outcomes related to post-exercise recovery will be assessed across intervention periods.

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy adult volunteers aged 18-30 years * Able to perform high-intensity cycling exercise * No musculoskeletal injury within the last six months * No known cardiovascular, neurological, or metabolic disease * Not using medication that may affect exercise performance, pain perception, or recovery * Willing to attend all five study sessions * Willing to receive all five passive recovery interventions * Provided written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury * History of cardiovascular, neurological, respiratory, or metabolic disease * Contraindication to high-intensity exercise * Contraindication to compression therapy, vacuum therapy, kinesiology taping, passive rest, or classical massage * Skin allergy, open wound, dermatological disease, or sensitivity to kinesiology tape * Use of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant, or performance-enhancing medication during the study period * Participation in another exercise or recovery intervention study during the study period * Failure to attend all study sessions or comply with study procedures