Short-Term Effects of Trigger Point Dry Needling on Neuromuscular Control in Individuals Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Treatments: Procedure: Dry needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07039240

1804202211322

Details and patient eligibility

About

This single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of dry needling on neuromuscular control in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction during a single-leg vertical drop landing task. Participants in the intervention group will receive dry needling, while those in the control group will not receive any therapeutic intervention.

The main research question is:

• Can dry needling induce changes in muscle activation, co-contraction magnitude, and biomechanical parameters during landing?

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
• Successful return to recreational sports participation
• For the experimental group, participants must present at least one active or latent trigger point in the vastus medialis (VM) and/or vastus lateralis (VL) muscles on the side ipsilateral to the ligament reconstruction.

Exclusion criteria

• Peripheral or central neurological disorders
• Systemic or degenerative diseases
• Fibromyalgia
• Iron deficiency
• Hypothyroidism
• Belonephobia
• Contraindications to dry needling
• History of dry needling treatment in the lower limbs

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Dry Needling

Experimental group

Treatment:

Procedure: Dry needling