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NCT Number: NCT06396741

Changes in the Quadriceps Muscle After Dry Needling Treatment

The present study aims to examine the mechanical changes following dry needling of the quadriceps muscle.

To this end, structural and mechanical changes in quadriceps muscle activity will be measured using M-mode ultrasound.

The quadriceps muscle strength will also be assessed with dynamometry. In addition, the knee joint range will be checked by means of a goniometry procedure.

The subjects will be assessed before and after the application of a dry needling technique on the quadriceps muscle to determine possible changes in the measured variables.

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Key information

Conditions

Muscle Tightness Muscle Strain Sprains and Strains Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centro Investigación Fisioterapia y Dolor

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28805, Spain

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy subject.

Exclusion criteria

  • Low back pain
  • Hip pain
  • Sciatica
  • Belenophobia
  • Be medicated with anticoagulants
  • Knee surgery
  • Knee osteoarthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

The quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound control

Other

With the subject in the supine position, the quadriceps muscle will be shown by ultrasound. Subsequently, a dry needling technique will be performed at the most hyperalgesic point using ultrasound control.

Primary outcomes

  1. Muscle thickness

    Time frame: before and after one week. The muscle thinckness will be measurement in centimeters

    Muscle thickness and echo intensity, an indicator of muscle quality, are related to muscle strength, physical function, and muscle mass measured using echographs ultrasound.It will be measured how muscle thickness changes after applying a dry needling technique

Secondary outcomes

  1. Quadriceps muscle strength

    Time frame: before and after one week.

    The quadriceps muscle strength evaluation will be the measurement of isometric knee extension strength with a hand-held dynamometer (microFET2, Hoggan Scientific, LLC; West Jordan, UT). The maximum voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle will be measured. The participants completed three maximal isometric contractions, holding for approximately 3 seconds, with one minute of rest between each contraction.The value of the force will be obtained by calculating the average of the three measurements. The muscle strength wil be measurement in kilograms

  2. knee range of motion (flexion)

    Time frame: before and after one week

    To measure knee flexion, bend the knee as far as you can, by sliding your foot up towards your buttocks, keeping the arms and axis of the goniometer in place, then measure. Passive Knee Flexion ROM: up to 150º, depending on the size of the leg - the limit is the calf pushing onto the back of the thigh. The knee range of motion will be measurement in degrees

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos Martín

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Determination of Biomechanical Changes in the Quadriceps Muscle After Dry Needling Treatment

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 2, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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