NCT03448120

Brief Summary

Introduction: Neuromuscular fatigue is defined when the muscle becomes incapable of generating muscle power or strength after exercise or long repetitive activities. As well as, the inability to maintain optimum performance and generate maximum voluntary contractions during a physical exercise. When performing physical activity, the body's metabolic response increases proportionally to exercise to satisfy the demands of the human physiological. Part of the energy accumulated during exercise is lost to the environment in the form of heat and another part is maintained internally through the physiological control for thermoregulation. In addition, the muscle generates an electric signal important to determine its status regarding power and fatigue. Objective: To investigate the reduction of acute peripheral fatigue induced by isometric contractions from acupuncture and dry needling techniques, compared to absolute rest. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and experimental study, with descriptive, analytical and quantitative approach. It follows the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. The volunteers will be gathered according to the eligibility criteria, and randomly divided in 3 groups: the control group (G1), the volunteers who will remain in prolonged rest; the acupuncture group (G2), in which volunteers will receive six needles in six acupoints in the non-dominant upper limb and the dry needling group (G3), in which the volunteers will receive application of six needles arranged in the non-dominant biceps brachialis.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
45

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 2018

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 21, 2018

Completed
5 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 26, 2018

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 27, 2018

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 16, 2018

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 21, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

March 2, 2022

Status Verified

February 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

9 months

First QC Date

February 21, 2018

Last Update Submit

February 10, 2022

Conditions

Keywords

Muscle fatigueThermographyAcupunctureDry needling

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Perception of muscle fatigue

    Fatigue perception measured by Visual Analog Scale for fatigue assessment, graduated from 0,00 to 10,0 centimeters, being 0,00 no fatigue and 10,0 maximum fatigue.

    60 minutes

  • Muscle temperature

    Infrared thermographic Imaging analysis of acute peripheral muscle fatigue.

    60 minutes

  • Muscle fatigue

    Electromyographic activity (in microvolts) of the biceps brachii muscle to assess muscle fatigue through the median frequency (MF).

    60 minutes

Other Outcomes (1)

  • Contraction time

    60 minutes

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

The volunteers who will remain in prolonged rest (10 minutes for homeostasis plus 30 minutes of no intervention).

Acupuncture Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The volunteers will receive six needles in six acupoints in the non-dominant upper limb for 30 minutes.

Procedure: Acupuncture

Dry needling Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The volunteers will receive application of six needles arranged in the non-dominant biceps brachialis for 30 minutes.

Procedure: Dry needling

Interventions

AcupuncturePROCEDURE

Six needled will be inserted in six already defined acupoints along the non-dominant upper limb for a period of 30 minutes.

Acupuncture Group
Dry needlingPROCEDURE

Six needles will be inserted in six predefined points along the volunteers non-dominant biceps brachialis for 30 minutes.

Dry needling Group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 40 Years
Sexmale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Male individuals, aged between 18 and 40 years and who are not practicing regular physical activity (sedentary lifestyle).

You may not qualify if:

  • Are using food supplementation;
  • Have joint or bone lesions on the limb to be studied;
  • Have problems of metabolic order;
  • Use of hormone therapy;
  • Have had caffeine in the two hours before the study;
  • Have ulceration or wounds in the electrode application region for electromyography;
  • Show absence of myofascial trigger points in areas of dry needling technique;
  • Body Mass Index below normal values or higher than overweight.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Laboratory of Kinesiotherapy and Manual Therapeutic Resources, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE)

Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Antonino GB, Paula de Lima Ferreira A, Nepomuceno Montenegro EJ, Galvao de Moura Filho A, Freire da Silva AF, de Araujo MDGR. Acupuncture and Dry Needling in the Reduction of Peripheral Acute Fatigue Induced in the Biceps Braquii: Protocol for a Single-blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2020 Oct;13(5):163-166. doi: 10.1016/j.jams.2020.08.001. Epub 2020 Sep 1.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior

Interventions

Acupuncture TherapyDry Needling

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary TherapiesTherapeuticsPhysical Therapy Modalities

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
CARE PROVIDER
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor of the Physiotherapy Department

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 21, 2018

First Posted

February 27, 2018

Study Start

February 26, 2018

Primary Completion

November 16, 2018

Study Completion

December 21, 2018

Last Updated

March 2, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-02

Locations