Hamstring Muscle Shortness and Elastographic ExaminationNCT04118231
Effects of Dry Needling, Static Stretching and IASTM in People With Hamstring Muscle Shortness
A study testing Dry needling, IASTM and Static stretching in people with Hamstring Muscle Shortness and Elastographic Examination, run by Gazi University at 2 sites in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of dry needling, static stretching and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), each applied three times per week for four weeks, with a no-intervention control group in adults with hamstring muscle shortness. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Hamstring Muscle Shortness and Elastographic Examination
- What is being tested?
- Dry needling, IASTM and Static stretching
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2022to 2 May 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older
- Hamstring tightness, defined as passive hip flexion range of motion < 65° on the straight leg raise test without neurological signs
- No diagnosed chronic condition
- Voluntary participation and signed informed consent
Who cannot join
- Intense exercise within the previous 24 hours
- History of lower-extremity trauma or surgery
- History of hamstring injury
- Low back or sciatic pain or numbness
- Ankle instability
- Neurological signs during the straight leg raise test
- Lower-extremity hyperalgesia
- Pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)2 sites
Gazi University
Ankara, 06500
Gökhan maraş
Ankara, 06500
About this study
Official title: Comparison of the Effects of Dry Needling, Static Stretching and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques on Function, Performance and Muscle Structure in People With Hamstring Muscle Shortness
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of dry needling, static stretching and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), each applied three times per week for four weeks, with a no-intervention control group in adults with hamstring muscle shortness. Outcomes included joint range of motion, muscle strength, performance and muscle structure, and hamstring stiffness assessed with ultrasound shear-wave elastography.
Read the detailed description
Randomized, parallel-group, four-arm trial in adults with hamstring tightness (passive hip flexion < 65° on the straight leg raise test). Sixty participants were randomized using block randomization to IASTM, dry needling, static stretching or a no-intervention control group (15 per group). Interventions were applied to the dominant-limb hamstrings three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions); dry needling was performed by a physiotherapist under the supervision of a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and three days after the 12th session. Data collection was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and took place after approval by the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (07.11.2022, No. 812).
- Being tested
- Dry needling, IASTM, Static stretching
- Keywords
- Hamstring Shortness, Dry Needling, Elastography
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dry needlingOther
Dry needling of the hamstring muscles at three standardized sites near the motor points (two over the biceps femoris, one over the semitendinosus/semimembranosus) using sterile, single-use stainless-steel needles and a fast in-and-out technique, approximately one minute per site.
IASTMOther
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization of the hamstring muscle group with a stainless-steel instrument, applied with distal-to-proximal sweeping strokes for 5 minutes per session.
Static stretchingOther
Manual passive static stretching of the hamstrings in supine with the knee extended: five 30-second stretches separated by 30-second rest periods (5 minutes per session).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Dry needling | Experimental | Dry needling of the hamstring muscles at three standardized sites near the motor points (two over the biceps femoris, one over the semitendinosus/semimembranosus) using sterile, single-use stainless-steel needles and a fast in-and-out technique, approximately one minute per site. Performed by a physiotherapist under the supervision of a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. Receives: Other: Dry needling |
| Control group | No intervention | No intervention; outcomes assessed at the same time points as the intervention groups. |
| IASTM | Experimental | IASTM applied to the dominant-limb hamstrings, 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions). Receives: Other: IASTM |
| Static stretching | Experimental | Static stretching applied to the dominant-limb hamstrings, 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions). Receives: Other: Static stretching |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Range of motion
The amount of hip flexion will be measured using a digital inclinometer.
Measured: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
Muscle Strength
Muscle strength will be assessed in newton using a digital hand dinanometer.
Measured: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
Vertical jump
The amount of vertical jump will be calculated from the value of cm by the tape measure fixed to the wall.
Measured: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
Muscle stiffness
Muscle stiffness will be evaluated by an expert radiologist using ultrasound elastography.
Measured: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Oct 2019
- Study start1 Dec 2022
- Primary completion1 May 2023
- Study completion2 May 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Hamstring Muscle Shortness and Elastographic ExaminationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Gazi UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Four-arm parallel-group randomized trial with 1:1:1:1 allocation (block randomization).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Gazi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, GÖKHAN MARAŞ, Gazi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04118231
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2019-114
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of the Effects of Dry Needling, Static Stretching and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques on Function, Performance and Muscle Structure in People With Hamstring Muscle Shortness
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04118231
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2019-114
- Keywords
- Hamstring Shortness, Dry Needling, Elastography
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Gazi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 2 May 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 Oct 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of dry needling, static stretching and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), each applied three times per week for four weeks, with a no-intervention control group in adults with hamstring muscle shortness. Outcomes included joint range of motion, muscle strength, performance and muscle structure, and hamstring stiffness assessed with ultrasound shear-wave elastography.
Detailed description
Randomized, parallel-group, four-arm trial in adults with hamstring tightness (passive hip flexion < 65° on the straight leg raise test). Sixty participants were randomized using block randomization to IASTM, dry needling, static stretching or a no-intervention control group (15 per group). Interventions were applied to the dominant-limb hamstrings three times per week for four weeks (12 sessions); dry needling was performed by a physiotherapist under the supervision of a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and three days after the 12th session. Data collection was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and took place after approval by the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (07.11.2022, No. 812).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- Four-arm parallel-group randomized trial with 1:1:1:1 allocation (block randomization).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Dry needling | Experimental | Other: Dry needlingDry needling of the hamstring muscles at three standardized sites near the motor points (two over the biceps femoris, one over the semitendinosus/semimembranosus) using sterile, single-use stainless-steel needles and a fast in-and-out technique, approximately one minute per site. Performed by a physiotherapist under the supervision of a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. |
| Control group | No intervention | –No intervention; outcomes assessed at the same time points as the intervention groups. |
| IASTM | Experimental | Other: IASTMIASTM applied to the dominant-limb hamstrings, 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions). |
| Static stretching | Experimental | Other: Static stretchingStatic stretching applied to the dominant-limb hamstrings, 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 18 years or older
- Hamstring tightness, defined as passive hip flexion range of motion < 65° on the straight leg raise test without neurological signs
- No diagnosed chronic condition
- Voluntary participation and signed informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Intense exercise within the previous 24 hours
- History of lower-extremity trauma or surgery
- History of hamstring injury
- Low back or sciatic pain or numbness
- Ankle instability
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Dry needlingDry needling of the hamstring muscles at three standardized sites near the motor points (two over the biceps femoris, one over the semitendinosus/semimembranosus) using sterile, single-use stainless-steel needles and a fast in-and-out technique, approximately one minute per site. | Other | Dry needling |
| IASTMInstrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization of the hamstring muscle group with a stainless-steel instrument, applied with distal-to-proximal sweeping strokes for 5 minutes per session. | Other | IASTM |
| Static stretchingManual passive static stretching of the hamstrings in supine with the knee extended: five 30-second stretches separated by 30-second rest periods (5 minutes per session). | Other | Static stretching |
Primary outcome
Range of motion
Time frame: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
The amount of hip flexion will be measured using a digital inclinometer.
Muscle Strength
Time frame: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
Muscle strength will be assessed in newton using a digital hand dinanometer.
Vertical jump
Time frame: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
The amount of vertical jump will be calculated from the value of cm by the tape measure fixed to the wall.
Muscle stiffness
Time frame: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)
Muscle stiffness will be evaluated by an expert radiologist using ultrasound elastography.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dry needling, IASTM and Static stretching in people with Hamstring Muscle Shortness and Elastographic Examination, run by Gazi University at 2 sites in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Range of motion (time frame: Baseline and 3 days after the 12th session (week 4)). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Oct 2026.