Changes in Brain-Muscle Coupling After Microneedle-Knife Therapy for Ankle Sprain

NCT07839260 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: LSW20260914
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 11
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluated changes in brain-muscle coordination in patients with ankle sprain after one session of microneedle-knife therapy. Microneedle-knife therapy is a minimally invasive treatment applied to soft tissues related to the lower leg and foot. Eleven participants completed electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) recordings before and after treatment. During each recording, participants performed ankle dorsiflexion, eversion, and inversion or isometric contraction tasks. The primary analysis examined corticomuscular coupling, which reflects coordination between activity in motor-related brain regions and lower-limb muscles, particularly within the beta frequency band of 15 to 30 Hz.

Conditions

Ankle Sprain

Keywords

Microneedle-Knife Therapy; Acupotomy; Corticomuscular Coupling; Corticomuscular Coherence; Electroencephalography; Electromyography; EEG-EMG; caCOH; Beta Band; Ankle Motor Control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change From Pre-Treatment in Mean Beta-Band Corticomuscular Coupling Measured by caCOH

  Mean caCOH within the beta frequency band of 15 to 30 Hz was calculated from synchronized EEG and EMG recordings for each participant during ankle dorsiflexion, eversion, and inversion or isometric contraction tasks. The primary analysis focused on motor-related EEG channels C3 and C4 and task-relevant lower-limb muscles. Change in caCOH was calculated as the post-treatment value minus the pre-treatment value. A positive change indicates increased corticomuscular coupling after treatment.

  Baseline and immediately after the single microneedle-knife therapy session

Study Arms (1)

Microneedle-Knife Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

One session of microneedle-knife therapy was administered to soft-tissue regions related to the affected lower leg and foot. No other therapeutic intervention was administered as part of the study during the treatment period.

Procedure: Microneedle-Knife Therapy

Interventions

Microneedle-Knife Therapy PROCEDURE

One session of microneedle-knife therapy was administered to soft-tissue regions related to the affected lower leg and foot. No other therapeutic intervention was administered as part of the study during the treatment period.

Microneedle-Knife Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Clinically diagnosed ankle sprain.
• Able to perform ankle dorsiflexion, eversion, and inversion or isometric contraction tasks according to the researchers' instructions.
• Able to complete synchronous EEG and EMG recordings before and after treatment.
• Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe neurological disease, osteoarticular disease, or another condition affecting lower-limb motor control.
• Severe cognitive impairment, impaired auditory comprehension, or inability to follow the experimental instructions.
• Recent receipt of another therapeutic intervention that could substantially affect lower-limb motor function.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University: lead
• Hangzhou Dianzi University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China

Dongyang, Zhejiang, 322100, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Ankle Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Chief Physician

Model Details: All participants were assigned to a single intervention arm and received one session of microneedle-knife therapy. Synchronous EEG and EMG recordings were performed before and after the intervention. Each participant served as their own control, and no parallel control group was included.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 19, 2026
• First Posted: September 24, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: January 1, 2023
• Study Completion: June 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)