Clinical trial NCT04161105: Treatment Time-frame Guideline for Dry Needling in the Lower Limb
Official title: Treatment Time-frame Guidelines for Myofascial Dry Needling of Latent Myofascial Trigger Points in the Muscles of the Lower Limb Kinetic Chain.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Trigger Points
Keywords: Dry needling
Strength
Latent trigger points
Lead sponsor: Institute of Technology, Carlow
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-11-13
Enrollment: 28
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Participants with latent trigger points in rectus femoris (RF) and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles will be stratified evenly into 3 groups (RF dry needling, GM dry needling or control) based on baseline strength. Treatment, data collection and data analysis of all participants will be conducted concurrently.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study evaluates the impact of treating myofascial trigger points with a single session of dry needling on maximal isometric strength in the short term. Two groups will receive dry needling in separate muscle groups and a third group will receive no dry needling.

Detailed description: Dry needling is a effective treatment for myofascial trigger points. It is very common in a sporting environment. Strength is a key aspect of athletic performance. Despite the prevalence of dry needling within a sporting environment, the effects of dry needling on strength remains unknown.

This study will investigate the effects of dry needling on maximal isometric strength with a view to informing clinical practice amongst clinicians working in the elite sport setting.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Must have latent trigger points in their rectus femoris and gluteus maximus

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active trigger points in rectus femoris or gluteus maximus
* Participants with current injuries
* History of fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome
* History of blood disorder which prevents dry needling
* Needle phobia
* History of surgery in the last 6 months

Primary outcomes:
measure: Isometric peak force during the isometric mid-thigh pull
timeFrame: Baseline, 24 hours post intervention, 48 hours post intervention, 72 hours post intervention.
measure: Isometric peak rate of force development during the isometric mid-thigh pull
timeFrame: Baseline, 24 hours post intervention, 48 hours post intervention, 72 hours post intervention.
measure: Relative isometric peak force during the isometric mid-thigh pull
timeFrame: Baseline, 24 hours post intervention, 48 hours post intervention, 72 hours post intervention.
measure: Relative isometric peak rate of force development during the isometric mid-thigh pull
timeFrame: Baseline, 24 hours post intervention, 48 hours post intervention, 72 hours post intervention.
measure: Normalised isometric peak rate of force development during the isometric mid-thigh pull
timeFrame: Baseline, 24 hours post intervention, 48 hours post intervention, 72 hours post intervention.
measure: Isometric time interval rate of force development during the isometric mid-thigh pull
timeFrame: Baseline, 24 hours post intervention, 48 hours post intervention, 72 hours post intervention.
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Carlow
country: Ireland
facility: Institute of Technology Carlow
state: Leinster
Study officials:
affiliation: Institute of Technology, Carlow
name: Darragh O' Meara, BSc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: