Clinical trial NCT03637439: Neuromodulation in Patients With Hamstring Shortening
Official title: Effects of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Neuromodulation on Flexibility and Hamstring Force
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Hamstring Contractures
Lead sponsor: Universidad de Murcia
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Universidad de Murcia
First posted: 2018-08-20
Enrollment: 40
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The flexibility of the hamstrings is a very important component both for general health and when exercising. The lack of hamstring flexibility has been related to the increase in the likelihood of suffering a large number of musculoskeletal pathologies, due to the possibility of causing important muscle imbalances, which include lumbar spine pathologies, such as disc hernias or spondyloarthrosis. In addition, the decrease in the flexibility of the hamstring musculature is also related to the increased likelihood of suffering muscle strains, patellar tendon tendinopathies, femoropatellar syndrome and decreased lumbopelvic rhythm.

Clinically, an invasive technique has appeared, known as Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Neuromodulation (PNM). This minimally invasive intervention consists in the application of a percutaneous electrical stimulation (PES) through an acupuncture needle-like electrode that is placed in close proximity to the nerve or motor point of the muscle with ultrasound guidance. At the clinical level, the PES is always used with the therapeutic aim of relieving chronic pain and neuropathic pain. Similarly, in sports, PES is used with the aim of improving muscular activity. Therefore, according to the characteristics and the therapeutic benefits of this technique, further research is needed to discover multiple clinical indications.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects on flexibility and strength of an ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation intervention in patients with shortening of the hamstring muscles.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* over 18 years
* to practice some sports activity 2 or more times a week
* get less than 70º in PKE (Passive Knee Extension) with hip 90º

Exclusion Criteria:

* any previous surgery or acute trauma in the back or lower extremity.
* pain at the time of performing the assessment tests
* belonephobia
* anticoagulant consumption
* pregnancy
* hemorrhagic disorders
* immunosuppression
* inability to understand or carry out evaluations

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change from Passive Knee Extension 90º [PKE 90º] [Hamstring Flexibility test] 5 minutes after intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 5 minutes after intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change from Sit and Reach Flexibility Test [Hamstring Flexibility test] 5 minutes after intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 5 minutes after intervention
measure: Change from Stand and Reach Flexibility Test [Hamstring Flexibility test] 5 minutes after intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 5 minutes after intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Murcia
country: Spain
facility: Physical Therapy Department. University of Murcia
Study officials:
References: