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Healthy Adult ParticipantsNCT07684534

Effect of the Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Neuromodulation on the Mean Velocity in Crossfit Practitioners.

A study testing ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation in people with Healthy Adult Participants and Crossfit, run by CEU San Pablo University at 1 site in Spain.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This randomized controlled blinded clinical trial aims to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (US-guided PNM) targeting the innervation of the transversus abdominis muscle on squat performance in CrossFit practitioners. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Healthy Adult Participants, Crossfit
What is being tested?
ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
42 participants
Where
1 siteSpain
Study dates
8 Jul 2026to 1 Nov 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 60 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age between 18 and 60 years
  • At least 1 year of CrossFit training experience
  • Training frequency between 2 and 6 sessions per week

Who cannot join

  • Belonephobia (fear of needles)
  • Presence of cardiac conditions or implanted cardiac devices (e.g., pacemaker)
  • Pregnancy
  • Active oncological process
  • Skin conditions or lesions in the intervention area
  • Neurological or neurosensory disorders
Show all 16Show fewer
  • Epilepsy
  • Current febrile condition
  • Recent use of antibiotics
  • Treatment with anticoagulant medication
  • Use of medications that may affect physical performance
  • Autoimmune diseases or use of immunosuppressive therapy
  • Active lumbar or abdominal pathology
  • Recent lumbar surgery or operations related to the intervention area
  • Active musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting squat technique or -performance
  • Undiagnosed pain affecting execution of the sporting movement.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Paco N Navarro Pastor, Physiotherapist contact

+34 685536102

navarropastorpaco@gmail.com

Spain1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Fisiosport premium SL

    Murcia, Murcia, 30007

    Francisco Navarro Pastor, Physiotherapist, +34 685536102, navarropastorpaco@gmail.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Effect of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Neuromodulation of the Transversus Abdominis on the Force-Velocity Profile During the Squat Performance in Crossfit Practitioners.

This randomized controlled blinded clinical trial aims to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (US-guided PNM) targeting the innervation of the transversus abdominis muscle on squat performance in CrossFit practitioners.

The transversus abdominis is a deep trunk muscle that contributes to lumbopelvic stability and force transmission during functional and athletic movements. Previous research suggests that improving neuromuscular activation of the trunk musculature may enhance movement efficiency and performance during resistance exercises. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation is a minimally invasive technique that applies electrical stimulation through a needle placed close to a peripheral nerve under ultrasound guidance, with the aim of modulating neuromuscular function.

Read more

Healthy male and female CrossFit practitioners aged 18 to 60 years, with at least one year of training experience, will participate in the study. Participants will undergo an initial ultrasound assessment of transversus abdominis activation to classify and distribute the sample into groups. In a second session, mean velocity, mean propulsive velocity, and velocity loss during squat performance will be assessed using a linear velocity transducer. Participants will perform 3 sets of 2 repetitions of the squat exercise at 80% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM).

Following baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves, or a sham group receiving needle insertion without electrical stimulation. The intervention will consist of a TENS-type current applied at 10 Hz for 10 cycles of 10 seconds. Squat performance variables will be reassessed immediately after the intervention.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether US-guided percutaneous neuromodulation can acutely improve squat performance in trained CrossFit practitioners. The study hypothesis is that participants receiving active neuromodulation will demonstrate greater improvements in squat execution velocity and lower velocity loss compared with participants receiving the sham intervention.

Read the detailed description

CrossFit training requires the integration of strength, power, trunk stability, and efficient force transmission during complex multi-joint movements. The back squat is one of the most frequently used exercises in CrossFit and is commonly applied to assess lower-limb performance through force-velocity profiling. Variables such as mean velocity, mean propulsive velocity, and velocity loss between sets provide relevant information regarding neuromuscular performance and fatigue resistance.

The transversus abdominis is a deep abdominal muscle involved in trunk stabilization and lumbopelvic control. Adequate activation of this muscle may contribute to improved force transmission between the lower and upper extremities during strength exercises. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (UGPNM) is an invasive physiotherapy technique that delivers electrical stimulation through a needle placed near a peripheral nerve under ultrasound guidance. This intervention has been proposed as a method to modulate neuromuscular function and potentially enhance motor performance.

Despite the increasing use of ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation in clinical and sports settings, evidence regarding its immediate effects on sport performance variables remains limited. In particular, the influence of neuromodulation targeting the innervation of the transversus abdominis on force-velocity profile characteristics during the squat has not been thoroughly investigated.

The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the immediate effects of ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation of the nerves supplying the transversus abdominis on mean velocity during the back squat in CrossFit practitioners. Secondary outcomes include mean propulsive velocity, fatigue resistance assessed through velocity loss between sets, perceived exertion, and potential differences in response according to baseline transversus abdominis activation capacity.

A total of 42 healthy CrossFit practitioners, both male and female, aged 18 to 60 years with at least one year of training experience, will be recruited. During baseline assessment, participants will undergo ultrasound evaluation of the transversus abdominis muscle at rest and during voluntary contraction. Muscle thickness will be measured in both conditions, and the percentage of activation will be calculated based on the relative change in thickness. Participants will then be classified into higher and lower activation subgroups according to the median value of transversus abdominis activation.

Following this classification, participants will be randomly allocated to either the experimental or sham group using block randomization performed with R statistical software, ensuring balanced distribution of activation levels between groups.

A blinded randomized controlled design with third-party outcome assessment will be used. Outcome assessments will be performed by a blinded evaluator responsible for ultrasound measurements of transversus abdominis thickness and for collecting squat performance variables obtained via a linear velocity transducer. The evaluator will not be involved in the randomization process and will remain unaware of group allocation throughout the study.

A separate clinician, not involved in outcome assessment, will administer either the active ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation intervention or the sham procedure. Participants will remain blinded to treatment allocation throughout the study.

The baseline performance assessment will include squat testing using a linear velocity transducer. Participants will perform three sets of two repetitions at 80% of their individual one-repetition maximum (1RM), following a standardized warm-up. Mean velocity, mean propulsive velocity, velocity loss, and rating of perceived exertion will be recorded.

The experimental intervention will consist of ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation applied to the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves using electrical stimulation at 10 Hz in 10-second cycles. The sham condition will involve identical needle insertion without electrical stimulation. Immediately after the intervention, all performance variables will be reassessed under identical testing conditions.

This study aims to determine whether ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation can produce immediate improvements in squat performance variables and whether baseline transversus abdominis activation capacity influences the response to the intervention.

Being tested
ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation, ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (sham)

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulationOther

    The intervention will be applied using ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves. The procedure will be performed under ultrasound guidance using a sterile percutaneous needle. In the experimental group, electrical stimulation will be delivered through the needle at a frequency of 10 Hz in 10-second cycles. Stimulation intensity will be adjusted according to participant tolerance, without exceeding the pain threshold.

  • ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (sham)Other

    The sham intervention consists of an ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle insertion performed in the same anatomical region as the experimental procedure (iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves), using identical positioning and procedural setup. No electrical stimulation is delivered through the needle at any point during the procedure. The duration and handling of the procedure are matched to the experimental condition to ensure participant blinding.

Study groups in NCT07684534
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulationExperimentalThe patients will receive ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves using electrical stimulation at 10 Hz in 10-second cycles.
Receives: Other: ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (sham)Sham comparatorThe patients will receive a sham ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation procedure involving identical needle insertion under ultrasound guidance without electrical stimulation
Receives: Other: ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (sham)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Mean Velocity during Back Squat (Linear Velocity Transducer)

    Mean velocity will be measured using a linear position transducer attached to the barbell during the back squat exercise. This device records bar displacement over time and allows calculation of bar velocity during the concentric phase of each repetition. The mean velocity of each repetition will be recorded, and the average across repetitions and sets will be used for analysis.

    Measured: Baseline assessment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the intervention (post-intervention, same session).

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Mean Propulsive Velocity during Back Squat (Linear Velocity Transducer)

    Mean propulsive velocity will be measured using a linear position transducer attached to the barbell during the back squat exercise. Mean propulsive velocity corresponds to the average bar velocity during the propulsive phase of the concentric movement, from the start of the upward movement until bar acceleration falls below gravitational acceleration. The average value across repetitions and sets will be used for analysis.

    Measured: Baseline assessment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the intervention (post-intervention, same session).

  2. Velocity Loss Between Sets during Back Squat (Linear Velocity Transducer)

    Velocity loss between sets will be calculated from the mean velocity recorded by the linear position transducer during the back squat exercise. This variable will be expressed as the percentage reduction in movement velocity between sets and will be used as an indicator of fatigue resistance.

    Measured: Baseline assessment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the intervention (post-intervention, same session).

  3. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

    Perceived exertion during the back squat exercise will be assessed using a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. Participants will rate the perceived intensity of the exercise after completing the squat protocol. Higher scores indicate greater perceived effort.

    Measured: Baseline assessment (pre-intervention), immediately after the intervention (post-intervention, same session), 1 week after the intervention, and 2 weeks after the intervention.

  4. Activation of the transverse abdominal muscle

    The investigators will measure the resting and activation thicknesses and will calculate the activation ratio.

    Measured: Baseline assessment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the intervention (post-intervention, same session).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Jul 2026
  2. Study start8 Jul 2026
  3. Primary completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)

Resources

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
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
42 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07684534
Sponsor's protocol ID
CdEi94
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
29 Jun 2026
Last updated
10 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Anonymized study data will be made available to other researchers upon reasonable request and following consultation with the principal investigator

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation in people with Healthy Adult Participants and Crossfit, run by CEU San Pablo University 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 3 inclusion and 16 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jul 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Paco N Navarro Pastor, Physiotherapist (+34 685536102, navarropastorpaco@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Mean Velocity during Back Squat (Linear Velocity Transducer) (time frame: Baseline assessment (pre-intervention) and immediately after the intervention (post-intervention, same session).). 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 10 Jul 2026.

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