ACL ReconstructionNCT07866963
Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Muscle Inhibition After ACL Reconstruction
A study testing Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Standard Physical Therapy in people with ACL Reconstruction, run by University of Lahore.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on arthrogenic muscle inhibition in athletes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- ACL Reconstruction
- What is being tested?
- Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Standard Physical Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 64 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Nov 2026to Feb 2027
- 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 15 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants with unilateral primary ACL reconstruction. ACL reconstruction performed using hamstring autograft (semitendinosus ± gracilis).
- Participants 0-4 weeks post-operative. Age 15-45 years. Participants receiving no other rehabilitation treatment. Participants who provide voluntary informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Contraindications to rehabilitation, such as wounds or infections. Lower-extremity venous thrombosis. Serious cognitive impairment or inability to cooperate. Severe cardiac insufficiency, renal failure, or other diseases contraindicating exercise.
- Combined fractures/cartilage injuries or multiple ligament injuries. Severe osteoporosis. Bone tumor of the lower limb or history of spinal tuberculosis. Passive joint extension limitation due to joint or surgery. Metal implants near the head. History of seizures. Previous exposure to tDCS. Cognitive disorders.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition in Athletes Following ACL Reconstruction
This randomized controlled trial will investigate the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on arthrogenic muscle inhibition in athletes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Participants will be allocated into two groups: a control group receiving standard physical therapy and an experimental group receiving standard physical therapy combined with anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1). The tDCS intervention will be delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes, three times per week for four weeks, immediately before supervised physiotherapy. The study will assess quadriceps muscle strength, arthrogenic muscle inhibition, neuromuscular control, and subjective knee function at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks. The study aims to determine whether adding anodal tDCS to standard rehabilitation improves outcomes following ACL reconstruction.
- Conditions
- ACL Reconstruction
- Being tested
- Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Standard Physical Therapy
- Keywords
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction;, Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition;, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation;, Anodal tDCS;
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Device
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be administered using a CE/FDA-approved constant-current tDCS device. Stimulation will be delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week, immediately before supervised physiotherapy, for 4 weeks (12 sessions). The anode will be placed over the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) quadriceps representation (C3 for the right leg and C4 for the left leg), using the international 10-20 system, while the cathode will be positioned over the contralateral supraorbital region.
Standard Physical TherapyOther
Standard physical therapy for 8 weeks, 1 hour per day, 3 times per week, for a total of 24 sessions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Physical Therapy | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Device: Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); Other: Standard Physical Therapy |
| Standard Physical Therapy Plus Anodal tDCS | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); Other: Standard Physical Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Quadriceps Muscle Strength
Quadriceps muscle strength will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer or handheld dynamometer following ACL reconstruction.
Measured: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Oct 2026
- Study startNov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionFeb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionFeb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ACL ReconstructionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of LahoreThe 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
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Lahore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Maryam Shabbir, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07866963
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Qasim Idrees
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 9 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition in Athletes Following ACL Reconstruction
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07866963
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Qasim Idrees
- Conditions
- ACL Reconstruction
- Keywords
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction;, Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition;, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation;, Anodal tDCS;
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of LahoreUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Feb 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Oct 2026 (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 will investigate the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on arthrogenic muscle inhibition in athletes following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Participants will be allocated into two groups: a control group receiving standard physical therapy and an experimental group receiving standard physical therapy combined with anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1). The tDCS intervention will be delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes, three times per week for four weeks, immediately before supervised physiotherapy. The study will assess quadriceps muscle strength, arthrogenic muscle inhibition, neuromuscular control, and subjective knee function at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks. The study aims to determine whether adding anodal tDCS to standard rehabilitation improves outcomes following ACL reconstruction.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Physical Therapy | Active comparator | Device: Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Other: Standard Physical Therapy |
| Standard Physical Therapy Plus Anodal tDCS | Experimental | Device: Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Other: Standard Physical Therapy |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 15 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Participants with unilateral primary ACL reconstruction. ACL reconstruction performed using hamstring autograft (semitendinosus ± gracilis).
- Participants 0-4 weeks post-operative. Age 15-45 years. Participants receiving no other rehabilitation treatment. Participants who provide voluntary informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Contraindications to rehabilitation, such as wounds or infections. Lower-extremity venous thrombosis. Serious cognitive impairment or inability to cooperate. Severe cardiac insufficiency, renal failure, or other diseases contraindicating exercise.
- Combined fractures/cartilage injuries or multiple ligament injuries. Severe osteoporosis. Bone tumor of the lower limb or history of spinal tuberculosis. Passive joint extension limitation due to joint or surgery. Metal implants near the head. History of seizures. Previous exposure to tDCS. Cognitive disorders.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be administered using a CE/FDA-approved constant-current tDCS device. Stimulation will be delivered at 2 mA for 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week, immediately before supervised physiotherapy, for 4 weeks (12 sessions). The anode will be placed over the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1) quadriceps representation (C3 for the right leg and C4 for the left leg), using the international 10-20 system, while the cathode will be positioned over the contralateral supraorbital region. | Device | Standard Physical Therapy, Standard Physical Therapy Plus Anodal tDCS |
| Standard Physical TherapyStandard physical therapy for 8 weeks, 1 hour per day, 3 times per week, for a total of 24 sessions. | Other | Standard Physical Therapy, Standard Physical Therapy Plus Anodal tDCS |
Primary outcome
Quadriceps Muscle Strength
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks
Quadriceps muscle strength will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer or handheld dynamometer following ACL reconstruction.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Oct 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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Standard Physical Therapy in people with ACL Reconstruction, run by University of Lahore.
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 2 inclusion and 2 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
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?
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?
Quadriceps Muscle Strength (time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks). 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 9 Oct 2026.