Comparing The Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) When Coupled With Dry Needling (DN), Acupuncture (AN) or Sham Needling (SN) on Knee Range of Motion (ROM), Jump Height and Unipedal Balance

NCT07612969 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: USJ-2023-10
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 65
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Muscle tightness was found to increase injury risks. Muscle relaese techniques and needling were known to reduce muscle tightness, their specific influence on functional muscle performance remains inconclusive. We hypothesized that (1) combining needling modalities with muscle release techniques (PNF) would significantly improve range of motion, unipedal balance, and jump height compared to a sham intervention; and (2) the specific combination of dry needling and PNF would demonstrate superior functional progression compared to the acupuncture and PNF protocol over a 5-week timeframe.

Conditions

Healthy Adult Males; Healthy Subjects

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Range of motion

  Knee range of motion was evaluated using a Goniometer

  1 week before protocol application and 5 weeks after

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Jump height

  1 week prior to the protocol application and 5 weeks after

• Unipedal balance

  1 week prior to the protocol and 5 weeks after

Study Arms (4)

Dry needling

EXPERIMENTAL

Its a needling technique that is inserted in the muscle in order to reduce muscle tightness

Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Dry Needling

Acupuncture

EXPERIMENTAL

It is a needling technique based on Chinese medicine

Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Acupuncture

Sham needling

EXPERIMENTAL

It is a placebo needling technique

Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Sham needling

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

EXPERIMENTAL

Its a physiotherapy technique that aims to reduce muscle tightness

Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Dry Needling; Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Acupuncture; Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Sham needling; Other: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Interventions

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Dry Needling OTHER

In addition to Dry needling, subjects also recieved Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Dry needling; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Acupuncture OTHER

In addition to Acupuncture needling, subjects also received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular facilitation.

Acupuncture; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation with Sham needling OTHER

In addition to Sham needling, subjects also received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; Sham needling

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation OTHER

All subjects recieved Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in addition to the 3 needling types

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 28 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• moderately active men (Perform at least 60 min of any sport activity on at least 3 days per week)
• aged between 18 and 28 years old
• having muscular tightness in both hamstrings and quadriceps muscles in both lower limbs

You may not qualify if:

• men who received any surgical, dry needling or acupuncture treatment in the last 6 months prior to the experimentation.
• Participants who had suffered from any injuries at the level of the hips, knees or ankles in the 12 months before the study.
• participants under anticoagulant medications or suffering from bleeding disorders.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mohamad Karam: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiotherapy, Saint Joseph University of Beirut

Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Kuzdzal A, Trybulski R, Muracki J, Klich S, Clemente FM, Kawczynski A. Dry Needling in Sports and Sport Recovery: A Systematic Review with an Evidence Gap Map. Sports Med. 2025 Apr;55(4):811-844. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02175-9. Epub 2025 Feb 10.

  PMID: 39928077 BACKGROUND

• Forogh B, Ghaseminejad Raeini A, Jebeli Fard R, Mirghaderi P, Nakhostin-Ansari A, Nakhostin-Ansari N, Bahari H, Hoveidaei AH. Efficacy of trigger point dry needling on pain and function of the hip joint: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Acupunct Med. 2024 Apr;42(2):63-75. doi: 10.1177/09645284231207870. Epub 2023 Dec 27.

  PMID: 38149616 BACKGROUND

• Zhu F, Chen Y, Zhu Y, Bai Z, Yan H. Acupuncture Therapy for Extremity Musculoskeletal Pain: A Clinically Focused Evidence Synthesis with Therapeutic Implications. J Pain Res. 2025 Oct 24;18:5541-5554. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S551446. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 41164823 BACKGROUND

• Reiner MM, Tilp M, Nakamura M, Konrad A. Is muscle stiffness a determinant for range of motion in the leg muscles? Biol Sport. 2024 Mar;41(2):115-121. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2024.131821. Epub 2023 Jun 10.

  PMID: 38524826 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises; Dry Needling; Acupuncture Therapy

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; Complementary Therapies

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2026
• First Posted: May 29, 2026
• Study Start: January 16, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 20, 2023
• Study Completion: February 27, 2023
• Last Updated: June 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

LE (1)