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Dry Needling Versus Conservative Treatment in the Rectus Femoris Muscle Approach.

Application of the Deep Versus Superficial Dry Needling and Stretching Technique in the Treatment of the Quadriceps Rectus Femoris Muscle.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04968236
Enrollment
90
Registered
2021-07-20
Start date
2021-08-30
Completion date
2024-02-05
Last updated
2024-02-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dry Needling, Stretch, Rectus Femoris Muscle

Keywords

Deep Dry needling, Superficial dry needling, muscle stretching, rectus femoris

Brief summary

In recent years, dry needling techniques have become widespread in the field of musculoskeletal pain treatment. Specifically, the management of myofascial trigger points has been the focus of these techniques. One of the objectives has been to improve the flexibility of those muscles that, due to the presence of myofascial trigger points, had a decrease in this parameter. This study aims to determine whether the application of a dry needling technique is more effective than analytical stretching of the muscle.

Detailed description

Hypothesis of the study Deep dry needling of latent trigger points of the rectus femoris produces greater effects on flexibility, strength and pain than superficial dry needling or stretching. \- Overall objective: To compare the differences that occur in flexibility, strength and pain threshold to pressure after the application of deep dry needling, superficial dry needling and stretching on latent trigger points of the rectus femoris. \- Specific objectives To determine the changes produced by deep dry needling on flexibility, strength and pain threshold to pressure. To determine the changes produced by superficial dry needling on flexibility, strength and pain threshold to pressure. To determine the changes in flexibility, strength and pain threshold to pressure produced by conventional assisted stretching. To check if the changes remain after 7 days of the application of the techniques. To assess the inter-rater reliability of the Goniometer APP in the study sample.

Interventions

In-and-out into different directions technique to encounter sensitive spots in an MTrP region.

This technique involves inserting a needle at a depth that is into the subcutaneous tissue and may be combined with manipulation of the needle while in situ.

Type of stretching in which you stay in one position for a set time. In this case, hip extension and knee flexion.

Sponsors

University of Alcala
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Men and women between 18 and 65 years old. 2. To have at least 70º of knee flexion. 3. Be aware of and accept the study criteria (informed consent). 4. Healthy subjects, without previous hip or knee pathology or involved musculature.

Exclusion criteria

1. To have pain. 2. Having pain in the quadriceps or hip at the time of the study. 3. Currently following physiotherapy or analgesic treatment. 4. Belenophobia (fear of needles). 5. Recent surgery or trauma in the area. 6. Pregnancy.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Knee joint rangeChange from baseline at 7 daysKnee flexion motion assessment by using the Goniometer APP, which is a digital goniometer that has proven its reliability and validity.The overall concordance coefficient has shown very good to excellent with active measurements (range, 0.60-0.97).
Muscle strengthChange from baseline at 7 daysForce will be measured by a manual dynamometer (microFET®2, Hoggan Scientific LLC). Measurements will be taken in Newtons (N). It will be evaluated in the movements of flexion of knee. Manual dynamometry has proven to be a tool with excellent intra-examiner reliability to assess isometric force in flexion of the knee, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.96 (0.93-0.98).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)Change from baseline at 7 daysAn algometer Wagner FPI 10-WA will be used to determine the PPT in rectus femoris trigger points

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026