Intratissue Electrolysis (EPI) is Effective in Deactivating Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs). (EPIEMG)

NCT07351331 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: EPIEMG
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Invasive physiotherapy techniques, such as Intratissue Percutaneous Electroly-sis (IPE), have numerous beneficial effects depending on the pathology being treated, in-cluding the deactivation of myofascial trigger points (MTP) caused by myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). The objectives are (1) evaluate the effectiveness of low intesity IPE treatment com-pared to DN on the shortening of FHB in patients with MPS, in 4 and 12 weeks evaluation, (2) assess the distribution of plantar pressures after the interventions and (3) evaluate the modification of FHB activation following the interventions.

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS)

Keywords

Percutaneous electrolysis; Dry needling; Myofascial pain syndrome; Flexor hallucis brevis; Electromyography; Pressure platform

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• mean pressures (MP)

  it is the average value of the pressure measured on a pressure platform, representing the general distribution of force per unit area across a surface (g/cm²)

  It was measured at the start of the protocol in week 1, in week 4 and in week 12.

• maximum pressures (PMáx)

  it is the highest pressure value recorded on the pressure platform, indicating the point of greatest concentration of force per unit area on the evaluated surface.(g/cm²)

  It was measured at the start of the protocol in week 1, in week 4 and in week 12.

• maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)

  The muscular activation is analyzed during 3 sets of 5 seconds of isometric contraction, against the resistance of the examiner's hand

  It was measured at the start of the protocol in week 1, in week 4 and in week 12.

• dynamic muscular activation of the FHB

  The subject's position is a protocol that has been previously explained to ensure correct measurement. The subject must walk for 20 seconds

  It was measured at the start of the protocol in week 1, in week 4 and in week 12.

Study Arms (2)

Group Percutaneous Intratisular Electrolysis (IPE)

EXPERIMENTAL

To perform the intervention correctly, whether for DN or IPE, the patient is positioned in a prone position. followed by disinfection with an antiseptic applied to the region to be addressed, with the therapist always wearing gloves as protection. Once the respective treatment is completed, pressure is applied to the needle entry point for 30 seconds. The IPE intervention is performed with the Physio Invasiva® device (Enraf Nonius Ibérica S.A., Madrid, Spain), following the same approach as in the DN, with gloves worn and the region disinfected beforehand. The tense band is located to introduce the needle into the nodule, attempting to elicit a LTR produced by an MTP (20,34,37,38) , Galvanic current is then applied, with 3 pulses of 5 seconds each at an intensity of 1.5 milliamperes (mA) and current interruption between each pulse (34) , differing from other studies that apply 3 mA or more (37,38) .

Other: Intratissue Percutaneous Electroly

dry needling (DN)

EXPERIMENTAL

To perform the intervention correctly, whether for DN or IPE, the patient is positioned in a prone position. followed by disinfection with an antiseptic applied to the region to be addressed, with the therapist always wearing gloves as protection. Once the respective treatment is completed, pressure is applied to the needle entry point for 30 seconds. The intervention with DN is performed using the "quick entries and exits technique of Hong" (35) , with gloves and alcohol disinfectant applied to the region to be treated, in this case, the internal part of the plantar foot (FHB) (33) . Next, the taud band of the FHB muscle is located, and a palpable nodule that is painful to mechanical stimulation is identified in the taud band. The needle is then inserted into the nodule to perform the "quick entry and exit technique" (34) , with 4 entries and exits performed on the FHB, aiming to provoke local twich responses (LTR)

Other: dry needling

Interventions

Intratissue Percutaneous Electroly OTHER

Three interventions were performed, the first in the initial week, after pressure and sEMG measurements, the second in week 4, and the third in week 12.

Group Percutaneous Intratisular Electrolysis (IPE)

dry needling OTHER

Three interventions were performed, the first in the initial week, after pressure and sEMG measurements, the second in week 4, and the third in week 12.

dry needling (DN)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• subjects with ages between 18 and 65 years,
• hypersensitive spot within a taut band in FHB muscle.
• pain upon stimulation of the MTP.
• painful limit to the full range of motion

You may not qualify if:

• subjets who had bilateral LTP present.
• who have had a lower limb injury or surgery within the last 6 months.
• subjectss with active pathologies at the time of measurement in the lower limb.
• subjectss with cognitive impairment.
• subjectss with belonephobia or contraindications for the use of needles (oral anticoagulant therapy).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Camilo Jose Cela University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad Camilo José Cela

Madrid, Spain

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Martinez-Jimenez EM, Losa-Iglesias ME, Antolin-Gil MS, Lopez-Lopez D, Romero-Morales C, Benito-de-Pedro M, Calvo-Lobo C, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R. Flexor Digitorum Brevis Muscle Dry Needling Changes Surface and Plantar Pressures: A Pre-Post Study. Life (Basel). 2021 Jan 13;11(1):48. doi: 10.3390/life11010048.

  PMID: 33451013 RESULT

• Rodriguez-Huguet M, Gongora-Rodriguez J, Rodriguez-Huguet P, Ibanez-Vera AJ, Rodriguez-Almagro D, Martin-Valero R, Diaz-Fernandez A, Lomas-Vega R. Effectiveness of Percutaneous Electrolysis in Supraspinatus Tendinopathy: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med. 2020 Jun 12;9(6):1837. doi: 10.3390/jcm9061837.

  PMID: 32545583 RESULT

• Martinez-Jimenez EM, Losa-Iglesias ME, Mazoteras-Pardo V, Lopez-Lopez D, Pereiro-Buceta H, Calvo-Lobo C, Rodriguez-Sanz D, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Navarro-Flores E. Dry needling of the flexor digitorum brevis muscle reduces postural control in standing: A pre-post stabilometric study. J Anat. 2023 Sep;243(3):545-554. doi: 10.1111/joa.13862. Epub 2023 Mar 16.

  PMID: 36924312 RESULT

• Benito-de-Pedro AI, Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo R, Losa-Iglesias ME, Rodriguez-Sanz D, Calvo-Lobo C, Benito-de-Pedro M. Efficacy of Deep Dry Needling versus Percutaneous Electrolysis in Ultrasound-Guided Treatment of Active Myofascial Trigger Points of the Levator Scapulae in Short-Term: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Life (Basel). 2023 Apr 3;13(4):939. doi: 10.3390/life13040939.

  PMID: 37109468 RESULT

• Lopez-Martos R, Gonzalez-Perez LM, Ruiz-Canela-Mendez P, Urresti-Lopez FJ, Gutierrez-Perez JL, Infante-Cossio P. Randomized, double-blind study comparing percutaneous electrolysis and dry needling for the management of temporomandibular myofascial pain. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2018 Jul 1;23(4):e454-e462. doi: 10.4317/medoral.22488.

  PMID: 29924769 RESULT

• Galasso A, Urits I, An D, Nguyen D, Borchart M, Yazdi C, Manchikanti L, Kaye RJ, Kaye AD, Mancuso KF, Viswanath O. A Comprehensive Review of the Treatment and Management of Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2020 Jun 27;24(8):43. doi: 10.1007/s11916-020-00877-5.

  PMID: 32594264 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Interventions

Dry Needling

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Officials

• María de Pedro Benito, PhD

  Associate Professor

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2025
• First Posted: January 20, 2026
• Study Start: November 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 28, 2025
• Study Completion: April 24, 2025
• Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)