Percutaneous Microelectrolysis in Agility, Joint Range and Strength

NCT04334772 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 603042020
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Electrical stimulation has a wide range of clinical applications in rehabilitation, being used for activities such as strengthening, pain control, management of edema, or control of inflammation after injury or surgery. One of the most classic forms of electrotherapy is direct current (DC), which stands out for its particular effects and which are not achieved with other forms of electrical stimulation. A new therapeutic alternative through DC is Percutaneous Microelectrolysis (MEP), which began to have a significant boom in Latin America a couple of years ago. MEP is a minimally invasive procedure in which a low intensity DC is used. MEP has been proposed as a therapeutic resource to reduce muscle contractions and shortenings, thus favoring flexibility, although research to support this effect is lacking. Muscle flexibility is an important component in rehabilitation and training programs. In lower limbs, tightness hamstring muscles is a common condition that limits flexibility and affects sedentary and athletic people. Loss of flexibility of hamstrings has been reported for different sports disciplines, showing a decrease in a high percentage with the exception of sports such as rhythmic gymnastics and dance where flexibility is essential for good performance. Loss of hamstring extensibility has been associated with a higher incidence of muscle tears, patellar tendinopathy, low back pain and alterations in lumbopelvic rhythm associated with compensatory biomechanical changes such as limb shortening, pelvic retroversion, and increased thoracic kyphosis, among others. It is interesting to investigate the effectiveness of MEP in hamstring tightness. A increase in hamstring flexibility can contribute to increased joint range, muscle strength, and lower limb agility.

Conditions

Hamstring Contractures

Keywords

Electric Stimulation Therapy; Electrolysis; Muscle Stretching Exercises; Muscle Strength; Agility; Hamstring Muscles

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Maximum isometric strength differences

  Comparing maximum hamstring isometric strength changes pre and post application of microelectrolysis and hamstring stretching protocol.

  Baseline and 2 hours later (1 session of treatment)

• Joint Range differences

  Comparing maximum knee extention range pre and post application of microelectrolysis and hamstring stretching protocol.

  Baseline and 2 hours later (1 session of treatment)

• Agility differences

  Comparison of time changes in performing the T agility test pre and post application of microelectrolysis and hamstring stretching protocol.

  Baseline and 2 hours later (1 session of treatment)

Study Arms (3)

Muscle belly Microelectrolysis

EXPERIMENTAL

Group to receive direct current application percutaneously using an acupuncture needle with intensities in microamps (µA) at hamstring muscular belly. The acupuncture needle will correspond to the negative electrode or cathode. The group will also receive a passive stretching exercise treatment by a physical therapist.

Device: Muscle belly Microelectrolysis; Other: Stretching exercises

Tendon Microelectrolysis

EXPERIMENTAL

Group to receive direct current application percutaneously using an acupuncture needle with intensities in microamps (µA) at the hamstring tendon. The acupuncture needle will correspond to the negative electrode or cathode. The group will also receive a passive stretching exercise treatment by a physical therapist.

Device: Tendon Microelectrolysis; Other: Stretching exercises

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group to receive treatment by assisted passive stretching performed by a physical therapist on tightness hamstrings.

Other: Stretching exercises

Interventions

Muscle belly Microelectrolysis DEVICE

three applications of direct current at 600 µA interrupted by intervals of 30 seconds between application at the level of the muscular belly of the shortened hamstrings.

Muscle belly Microelectrolysis

Tendon Microelectrolysis DEVICE

three applications of direct current at 600 µA interrupted by intervals of 30 seconds between application in the tendon of the shortened hamstrings.

Tendon Microelectrolysis

Stretching exercises OTHER

5 sets of passive static hamstring stretches using the straight leg extension (SLR) test for a time of 30 seconds and interval of 30 seconds for each

Control; Muscle belly Microelectrolysis; Tendon Microelectrolysis

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants over 18 years of age.
• Athletes from the university teams in the branches of rugby, soccer, basketball or tennis.
• Presence of hamstring shortening in one of the two extremities (positive straight leg elevation test or Straight Leg Raising). It will be considered as a positive test when the participant, in the supine position, shows tension or discomfort in the posterior region of the thigh when passively raising the lower limb for any angle less than 80 ° of hip flexion with extended knee. In the event that the participant presents a bilateral shortening, the limb with the lower elevation will be taken as shortened hamstrings.

You may not qualify if:

• Pain when performing hip or knee movements.
• Musculoskeletal injuries such as fractures, sprains, tears, dislocations, contusions, or joint problems of the lower extremities in the past 3 months.
• Skin disorders such as scars, burns, psoriasis or wounds in the posterior region of the thighs.
• Neurological signs or symptoms such as tingling, loss of sensation in the lower extremities (partial or complete), weakness, changes in color or temperature in the thigh, legs or foot.
• Background or circulatory abnormalities in the lower extremities such as arterial ischemia, venous insufficiency, embolism, post-phlebitic syndrome, lymphedema or deep vein thrombosis.
• Joint hypermobility (positive Beighton hypermobility test).
• Intake of medications or anti-inflammatory drug treatment at the time of recruitment (includes non-steroidal or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
• Allergy to metals.
• Apprehension or fear of the application of electric current.
• Belonephobia (extreme and uncontrollable fear of needles and other objects that can cause bloody wounds such as pins, knives, pocket knives, syringes, etc.).
• Elimination criteria.
• Discomfort during the intervention with electrotherapy that requires stopping treatment.
• Failure to complete the evaluation protocol (attendance at all scheduled evaluation sessions).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Quiropraxia y Equilibrio: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad Andrés Bello

Santiago, Las Condes, 7591538, Chile

Location

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MeSH Terms

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Hernán A de la Barra, Msc

  Universidad Andrés Bello

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 2, 2020
• First Posted: April 6, 2020
• Study Start: October 1, 2020
• Primary Completion: October 9, 2020
• Study Completion: January 31, 2021
• Last Updated: April 25, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CL (1)