Muscle TightnessNCT06396741
Changes in the Quadriceps Muscle After Dry Needling Treatment
A study of Muscle Tightness and Muscle Strain, run by Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos Martín at 1 site in Spain.
Trial summary
The present study aims to examine the mechanical changes following dry needling of the quadriceps muscle. To this end, structural and mechanical changes in quadriceps muscle activity will be measured using M-mode ultrasound. The quadriceps muscle strength will also be assessed with dynamometry. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Muscle Tightness, Muscle Strain
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 46 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSpain
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2025to 15 May 2026
- 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 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy subject.
Who cannot join
- Low back pain
- Hip pain
- Sciatica
- Belenophobia
- Be medicated with anticoagulants
- Knee surgery
Show all 9Show fewer
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Pregnancy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Spain1 site
Centro Investigación Fisioterapia y Dolor
Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28805
About this study
Official title: Determination of Biomechanical Changes in the Quadriceps Muscle After Dry Needling Treatment
The present study aims to examine the mechanical changes following dry needling of the quadriceps muscle.
To this end, structural and mechanical changes in quadriceps muscle activity will be measured using M-mode ultrasound.
The quadriceps muscle strength will also be assessed with dynamometry. In addition, the knee joint range will be checked by means of a goniometry procedure.
The subjects will be assessed before and after the application of a dry needling technique on the quadriceps muscle to determine possible changes in the measured variables.
- Conditions
- Muscle Tightness, Muscle Strain
- Being tested
- The quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound control
- Medical subject headings
- Sprains and Strains
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
The quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound controlOther
With the subject in the supine position, the quadriceps muscle will be shown by ultrasound. Subsequently, a dry needling technique will be performed at the most hyperalgesic point using ultrasound control.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Quadriceps muscle dry needling | Experimental | The Quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound control Receives: Other: The quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Muscle thickness
Muscle thickness and echo intensity, an indicator of muscle quality, are related to muscle strength, physical function, and muscle mass measured using echographs ultrasound.It will be measured how muscle thickness changes after applying a dry needling technique
Measured: before and after one week. The muscle thinckness will be measurement in centimeters
Secondary outcomes (2)
Quadriceps muscle strength
The quadriceps muscle strength evaluation will be the measurement of isometric knee extension strength with a hand-held dynamometer (microFET2, Hoggan Scientific, LLC; West Jordan, UT). The maximum voluntary contraction of the quadriceps muscle will be measured. The participants completed three maximal isometric contractions, holding for approximately 3 seconds, with one minute of rest between each contraction.The value of the force will be obtained by calculating the average of the three measurements. The muscle strength wil be measurement in kilograms
Measured: before and after one week.
knee range of motion (flexion)
To measure knee flexion, bend the knee as far as you can, by sliding your foot up towards your buttocks, keeping the arms and axis of the goniometer in place, then measure. Passive Knee Flexion ROM: up to 150º, depending on the size of the leg - the limit is the calf pushing onto the back of the thigh. The knee range of motion will be measurement in degrees
Measured: before and after one week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 May 2024
- Study start1 Sep 2025
- Primary completion1 May 2026
- Study completion15 May 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Muscle TightnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos Martín
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos Martín, University of Alcala
- Investigators
- Samuel Fernandez-Carnero, PhD, Study chair, Centro de Investigación Fisioterapia y Dolor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06396741
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CEID/2022/5/092
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Apr 2024
- Last updated
- 2 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Determination of Biomechanical Changes in the Quadriceps Muscle After Dry Needling Treatment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06396741
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CEID/2022/5/092
- Conditions
- Muscle Tightness, Muscle Strain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 46 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos MartínUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 May 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 May 2024 (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.
The present study aims to examine the mechanical changes following dry needling of the quadriceps muscle.
To this end, structural and mechanical changes in quadriceps muscle activity will be measured using M-mode ultrasound.
The quadriceps muscle strength will also be assessed with dynamometry. In addition, the knee joint range will be checked by means of a goniometry procedure.
The subjects will be assessed before and after the application of a dry needling technique on the quadriceps muscle to determine possible changes in the measured variables.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Quadriceps muscle dry needling | Experimental | Other: The quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound controlThe Quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound control |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Healthy subject.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Low back pain
- Hip pain
- Sciatica
- Belenophobia
- Be medicated with anticoagulants
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The quadriceps muscle will be punctured with ultrasound controlWith the subject in the supine position, the quadriceps muscle will be shown by ultrasound. Subsequently, a dry needling technique will be performed at the most hyperalgesic point using ultrasound control. | Other | Quadriceps muscle dry needling |
Primary outcome
Muscle thickness
Time frame: before and after one week. The muscle thinckness will be measurement in centimeters
Muscle thickness and echo intensity, an indicator of muscle quality, are related to muscle strength, physical function, and muscle mass measured using echographs ultrasound.It will be measured how muscle thickness changes after applying a dry needling technique
2 secondary outcomes
Quadriceps muscle strength
Time frame: before and after one week.
knee range of motion (flexion)
Time frame: before and after one week
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 2 Jun 2026.
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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.
Samuel Fernandez-Carnero, PhD study chair
Centro de Investigación Fisioterapia y Dolor
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study of Muscle Tightness and Muscle Strain, run by Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos Martín at 1 site in Spain.
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 1 inclusion and 9 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 2 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Spain. 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?
Muscle thickness (time frame: before and after one week. The muscle thinckness will be measurement in centimeters). 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 2 Jun 2026.