Eco-guided Neuromodulation of the Femoral Nerve on the Performance of Amateur Athletes.
July 17, 2026 updated by: Jacobo Rodríguez Sanz, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Effectiveness of Eco-guided Neuromodulation of the Femoral Nerve on the Performance of Amateur Athletes. Randomized Controlled Crossover Clinical Trial
This randomized crossover study aims to evaluate whether different percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) protocols produce changes in neuromuscular performance in healthy adults.
PENS involves the ultrasound-guided application of an electrical current through a needle to modulate motor neuron excitability.
Each participant will undergo five intervention sessions: (1) a long-term potentiation (LTP)-based protocol with impulse trains, (2) a 10 Hz protocol with 10 s stimulation and 10 s rest repeated ten times, (3) a 5-55 protocol with 100 Hz stimulation for 5 s followed by 55 s rest repeated five times, (4) a high-intensity burst (HIB) protocol applied at a high current intensity close to 1000 mA and repeated three times, and (5) a placebo condition.
All interventions will be applied bilaterally by an experienced physiotherapist under ultrasound guidance, with a two-week washout between sessions.
The objective of this trial is to assess whether these stimulation patterns produce measurable changes in squat execution velocity, jump performance, and quadriceps strength.
The findings may help identify the most effective stimulation strategy for enhancing neuromuscular performance.
Study Overview
Status
Recruiting
Conditions
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
23
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Contact
- Name: Jacobo Rodríguez Sanz, PhD
- Phone Number: +34 636-136-789
- Email: jrodriguezs@uic.es
Study Locations
-
-
Barcelona
-
Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain, 08195
- Recruiting
- Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
-
Contact:
- Jacobo Rodríguez Sanz, PhD
- Phone Number: +34 636 136 789
- Email: jrodriguezs@uic.es
-
-
Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Athletes aged between 18 and 30 years.
- Familiarized with performing barbell back squats using an Olympic bar.
- Engaged in regular training at least three times per week during the last six months.
- Able to perform squat and jump tests safely.
- Provided written informed consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Sports injury within the last two months or current inability to perform physical activity.
- Inability to understand or follow the instructions provided by the therapist.
- Participation in another research study during the same period.
- Belonephobia (fear of needles).
- Ongoing medical or pharmacological treatment that could interfere with neuromuscular performance (e.g., anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or similar medications).
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
- Masking: Double
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Theta Burst Protocol
The intervention consists of the bilateral, ultrasound-guided insertion of a needle for percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), following a theta-burst pattern designed to produce long-term potentiation-like effects.
An asymmetric biphasic compensated current with a rectangular positive phase and a triangular negative phase is applied at a frequency of 100 Hz for 5 seconds, followed by 55 seconds of rest, repeated five times.
The pulse width is 240 µs, and the intensity is maintained above the motor threshold and below the pain threshold.
|
The intervention consists of the bilateral, ultrasound-guided insertion of a needle for percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), following a theta-burst pattern designed to produce long-term potentiation-like effects.
An asymmetric biphasic compensated current with a rectangular positive phase and a triangular negative phase is applied at a frequency of 100 Hz for 5 seconds, followed by 55 seconds of rest, repeated five times.
The pulse width is 240 µs, and the intensity is maintained above the motor threshold and below the pain threshold.
Other Names:
|
|
Experimental: 10-10-10 Protocol
The intervention consists of the bilateral, ultrasound-guided insertion of a needle for percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS).
An asymmetric biphasic compensated current is applied, with a rectangular positive phase and a triangular negative phase, at a frequency of 10 Hz, pulse width of 240 µs, and an intensity above the motor threshold and below the pain threshold.
Each stimulation period lasts 10 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated ten times.
|
Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) applied under ultrasound guidance at 10 Hz, consisting of 10 seconds of stimulation followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated ten times.
The current intensity is adjusted to produce visible muscle contraction without pain.
|
|
Experimental: 5-55 Protocol
Ultrasound-guided PENS protocol applying a 100 Hz stimulation for 5 s followed by 55 s of rest, repeated five times.
The intensity is adjusted to a tolerable tingling sensation, below the pain threshold.
|
Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) applied under ultrasound guidance at 100 Hz for 5 seconds, followed by 55 seconds of rest, repeated five times.
The current intensity is adjusted to elicit a mild tingling sensation while remaining below the pain threshold.
|
|
Experimental: HIB Protocol (High-Intensity Burst)
Ultrasound-guided PENS protocol consisting of high-intensity bursts applied bilaterally at a current intensity close to 1000 mA, repeated three times.
The intensity is set individually, approaching but not exceeding the participant's tolerance threshold.
|
Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) applied under ultrasound guidance using high-intensity bursts delivered bilaterally at a current intensity close to 1000 mA, repeated three times.
The stimulation intensity is individually adjusted to approach but not exceed the participant's tolerance threshold.
Other Names:
|
|
Sham Comparator: Placebo
Ultrasound-guided needle insertion at the same anatomical location without electrical stimulation.
The device is manipulated to simulate treatment, but no current is delivered.
|
A sham PENS procedure involving ultrasound-guided needle insertion at the same anatomical site without electrical stimulation.
The device is manipulated to simulate treatment, but no current is delivered.
Participants are informed they might not feel any sensation during the session.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Time Frame |
|---|---|
|
Changes in squat execution velocity (m/s) measured with a linear encoder
Time Frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Time Frame |
|---|---|
|
Changes in vertical jump performance (jump height) measured with the MyJump2 app.
Time Frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
|
Changes in quadriceps strength measured in newtons using a force gauge
Time Frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
|
Changes in muscle activation in microvolts (μV) measured via surface electromyography
Time Frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Estimated)
September 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
September 30, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
September 30, 2026
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
July 13, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
July 17, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
July 22, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
July 22, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
July 17, 2026
Last Verified
July 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- CBAS-2023-19
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.