Immediate Effect of Dry Needling on Calf Muscles Pain Pressure Threshold,Sprint Speed and Functional Performance in Amateur Football Player
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Dry Needling, Sham Needling.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Myofascial Pain Syndromes, Trigger Points, Gastrocnemius Muscle. Basic parameters: 18 years — 25 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This randomised single-blind trial will evaluate the immediate effect of a single session of dry needling versus sham needling on calf muscle myofascial trigger points among amateur football players aged 18-25 years. Primary and secondary outcomes are Pressure Pain Threshold (algometer), Sprint Speed (shuttle run test), and Functional Performance (single-leg hop). Outcomes will be measured immediately pre- and post-intervention. Data analysis will be performed in SPSS version 27 using paired and independent t-tests (p \< 0.05).
Detailed description
A randomised, single-blind, parallel-group trial recruiting amateur club football players (age 18-25) with active myofascial trigger points in gastrocnemius or soleus. Participants randomised (coin toss) into Group A (Dry Needling) or Group B (Sham Needling). Baseline measures: Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) using handheld algometer, ankle dorsiflexion ROM with goniometer, sprint speed via shuttle run, and single-leg hop distance. Intervention: a single session of dry needling (sterile single-use filiform needles 0.25-0.30 mm; needles retained \~10 minutes with fast-in/fast-out pistoning to elicit local twitch response) or a non-penetrating sham procedure mimicking needling. Post-intervention assessments are performed immediately after the session. Data will be analysed with SPSS v.27; paired t-tests for within-group and independent t-tests for between-group comparisons (p \< 0.05).
Interventions
- Procedure Dry Needling
A single-session myofascial trigger point dry needling treatment will be administered to identified trigger points in the gastrocnemius and/or soleus muscles using sterile disposable filiform needles. The objective is to mechanically disrupt the dysfunctional motor end plate, elicit local twitch responses, reduce nociceptive activity, and restore muscle function. The intervention is delivered under aseptic conditions by a trained physiotherapist following standard safety guidelines. Post-procedu - Procedure Sham Needling
A simulated needling procedure designed to act as a placebo comparator will be applied without skin penetration. The technique reproduces the visual, tactile, and contextual components of dry needling to maintain participant blinding while avoiding physiological stimulation of the muscle. This allows isolation of the true therapeutic effect of dry needling from psychological or expectancy-related responses.
Primary outcome measures
- Pain Pressure Threshold [Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and Immediately Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention).]
- Functional Performance [Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and Immediately Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention).]
- Sprint Speed [Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and Immediately Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention).]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- Range of Motion of Ankle Dorsiflexion [Time frame: Baseline (Day 0, pre-intervention) and Immediately Post-intervention (within 15 minutes after intervention).]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Amateur football players aged 18-25 years.
Participation in club-level football for at least one year.
Presence of active myofascial trigger point in gastrocnemius or soleus confirmed by palpation.
Willingness to participate and provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- History of calf muscle tear, fracture, or lower limb surgery.
Current use of muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory medication.
Known bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy.
Local infection, skin lesion, or contraindication to dry needling.
Neurological or vascular disorders affecting lower limb function.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Foundation University College of Physical Therapy — Islamabad
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07525921 · FUI/FUCP/CTR/01.26/HamzaAliyan