Short-Term Effects of Trigger Point Dry Needling on Neuromuscular Control in Individuals Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
1 other identifier
interventional
30
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of dry needling on neuromuscular control in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction during a single-leg vertical drop landing task. Participants in the intervention group will receive dry needling, while those in the control group will not receive any therapeutic intervention. The main research question is: • Can dry needling induce changes in muscle activation, co-contraction magnitude, and biomechanical parameters during landing?
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Mar 2025
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
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
Study Start
First participant enrolled
March 3, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
April 30, 2025
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 11, 2025
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
June 18, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 26, 2025
CompletedJune 26, 2025
June 1, 2025
2 months
June 18, 2025
June 18, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Co-contraction Index
Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and 10 minutes post-intervention
Study Arms (2)
Control
NO INTERVENTIONDry Needling
EXPERIMENTALInterventions
The dry needling intervention will follow the fast-in and fast-out technique using disposable stainless-steel needles (0.35 × 40 mm). After insertion with a quick thrust, the needle will be manipulated in multiple directions to elicit at least one local twitch response (LTR). Once the first LTR is obtained, the needle will be moved vertically within a range of 3-5 mm, without rotation, until a total of three LTRs are elicited. The intervention is expected to last approximately 25-30 seconds.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Individuals who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- Successful return to recreational sports participation
- For the experimental group, participants must present at least one active or latent trigger point in the vastus medialis (VM) and/or vastus lateralis (VL) muscles on the side ipsilateral to the ligament reconstruction.
You may not qualify if:
- Peripheral or central neurological disorders
- Systemic or degenerative diseases
- Fibromyalgia
- Iron deficiency
- Hypothyroidism
- Belonephobia
- Contraindications to dry needling
- History of dry needling treatment in the lower limbs
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Center for Rehabilitation Research (CIR), School of Health of Polytechnic of Porto
Porto, Portugal
MeSH Terms
Interventions
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- BASIC SCIENCE
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- PhD Student
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
June 18, 2025
First Posted
June 26, 2025
Study Start
March 3, 2025
Primary Completion
April 30, 2025
Study Completion
June 11, 2025
Last Updated
June 26, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-06