Study of the neurophysiologic effects of dry needling on quadriceps muscle fatigue of amateur healthy men athletes immediately and one hour after dry needling

The study of the neurophysiologic effects of dry needling on quadriceps muscle fatigue of amateur healthy men athletes

A parallel, randomized, double blinded, sham controlled clinical trial with 20 participants. Randomization is carried out with sealed envelops.

The study is done at the rehabilitation department of Tehran University. H-reflex of the quadriceps muscle (alpha-motorneuron excitability), single leg hop (function) and single leg stance (balance) are done by participants on their dominant lower extremity randomly. also the maximum isometric torque is measured by a handheld dynamometer and measuring the moment arm length. after that, squat protocol is used to induce quadriceps muscle fatigue. tests are repeated after fatigue. after that dry needle in the intervention group and sham needle in the placebo group are performed. tests are repeated after needling and also after a hour. to blinding, tests and measurements are done by the assessor, who is unaware of the groups of people, and intervention is done by another person.

Inclusion criteria include the age of 18-40, doing minimum exercise of 3 one-hour sessions per week, no lower extremity injury and no previous experience of dry needle, and exclusion criteria include people's inability or dissatisfaction to continue the study, contraindications for dry needle and doing strenuous activity during 48 hours before the study.

While the subject was in supine with the leg in an extended neutral position, points on the VM, VL, and the RF muscles were randomly needled. People in the placebo group get into the same position, and they are needled at the same points as the intervention group. In this group needles are plastic ones in the tubes.

maximum isometric torque of quadriceps, balance, function, Hmax/Mmax ratio

simple randomization with sealed envelops: every participants are given a personal information form. there are written A and B on these forms to determine the intervention and placebo groups. these forms are given to participants randomly. if someone get the A form, he would be in the intervention group and if he get the B form, he would be in the placebo group.

to blinding, tests and measurements are done by the assessor, who is unaware of the groups of people. on the other hand intervention is done by another person. Also, for intervention, people in the placebo group are set on the same position as the intervention group and they get the sham needles (plastic needles on the tube) on the same points as the intervention group. these needles are put on the skin and are pushed on it, but they do not enter into body.

The raw data of research and its analysis will be available to the researcher if they request it.

After the publication of articles resulting from the research.

Researchers working in academic institutions.

The data are only available to other researchers to study and evaluate treatment outcomes.

Department of physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Enghelab street; Professor Soofia Naghdi Email address: naghdi@sina.tums.ac.ir

By sending an official Email to the corresponding author: professor Soofia Naghdi (naghdi@sina.tums.ac.ir) and requesting the data, the researcher will be answered as soon as possible.