Effects of Exercise Intensity on Musculoskeletal Injury Healing and Functional Recovery in College Students
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Abstract
This randomized controlled trial examines how exercise intensity affects musculoskeletal injury healing and functional recovery in college students. A total of 140 undergraduates with confirmed Grade I or II musculoskeletal injuries were randomly assigned to low-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise, high-intensity exercise, or conventional physical therapy. All participants completed a 12-week intervention, with outcomes assessed through biological markers of healing, objective functional performance, pain perception, and health-related quality of life. The results show that moderate-intensity exercise at 55%–70% HRmax produced the most favorable outcomes across inflammatory markers, isokinetic peak torque, joint range of motion, dynamic balance, VAS pain ratings, and SF-36 subscales. Highintensity loading was associated with inflammatory rebound and higher re-injury risk during early recovery, while conventional therapy produced the weakest overall improvement. The findings provide evidence-based guidance for campus rehabilitation programs and support future integration of biomedical sensing and signal analysis into individualized exercise monitoring.
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