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Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Athletes With Chronic Hamstring Strain

29 april 2026 uppdaterad av: Amr Mostafa Kamal Anas, Cairo University

Effectiveness of Dry Needling on Athletes With Chronic Hamstring Strain

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of dry needling in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes in athletes with chronic hamstring strain. Chronic hamstring injuries are common among athletes and often lead to persistent pain, reduced performance, and limitations in daily and sports activities.

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique used to target myofascial trigger points and relieve muscle tension. This study will compare the effects of dry needling with conventional physiotherapy interventions to determine its role in managing chronic hamstring strain.

Participants will be athletes diagnosed with chronic hamstring strain. Outcomes will include pain intensity, muscle flexibility, and functional performance. The results of this study may help improve rehabilitation strategies and provide evidence for the use of dry needling in sports injuries.

Studieöversikt

Status

Har inte rekryterat ännu

Betingelser

Intervention / Behandling

Detaljerad beskrivning

Chronic hamstring strain (CHS) is a common musculoskeletal condition among athletes, particularly in sports involving high-speed running and sudden changes in direction. It is characterized by persistent or recurrent symptoms lasting more than three months and is often associated with reduced muscle flexibility, decreased performance, and an increased risk of reinjury.

Dry needling (DN) has emerged as a therapeutic intervention targeting myofascial trigger points to reduce pain, improve muscle function, and restore neuromuscular control. It is believed to act through both mechanical and neurophysiological mechanisms, including reduction of muscle tension and modulation of pain pathways.

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of dry needling as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy in athletes with chronic hamstring strain. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups. The experimental group will receive dry needling combined with a structured physiotherapy program, while the control group will receive the same physiotherapy program without dry needling.

The physiotherapy program will include stretching exercises, strengthening exercises with an emphasis on eccentric loading, and functional training. Dry needling will be applied to identified trigger points in the hamstring muscles using standard clinical techniques.

Outcome measures will include pain intensity, hamstring flexibility, and functional performance. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention period.

The results of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the added value of dry needling in improving rehabilitation outcomes for athletes with chronic hamstring strain.

Studietyp

Interventionell

Inskrivning (Beräknad)

38

Fas

  • Inte tillämpbar

Kontakter och platser

Det här avsnittet innehåller kontaktuppgifter för dem som genomför studien och information om var denna studie genomförs.

Studiekontakt

Studieorter

  • Egypten
    • Alexandria Governorate
      • Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate, Egypten
        • Abu Qir General Hospital
        • Kontakt:

Deltagandekriterier

Forskare letar efter personer som passar en viss beskrivning, så kallade behörighetskriterier. Några exempel på dessa kriterier är en persons allmänna hälsotillstånd eller tidigare behandlingar.

Urvalskriterier

Åldrar som är berättigade till studier

  • Vuxen

Tar emot friska volontärer

Nej

Beskrivning

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male football players aged 18 to 35 years.
  • Diagnosed with chronic hamstring strain (CHS) confirmed by ultrasonography.
  • Injury duration of more than 3 months.
  • Classified as Grade I or Grade II hamstring strain.
  • Currently participating in the competitive phase of football.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) between 21-25 kg/m².

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Previous exposure to dry needling therapy.
  • Presence of any other current lower limb injuries.
  • Participation in another hamstring rehabilitation program.
  • Active skin infection at or near the treatment area.
  • Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant medications.
  • Severe needle phobia or psychological intolerance to needling.
  • Presence of neuromuscular disorders (e.g., muscular dystrophy or peripheral neuropathy).

Studieplan

Det här avsnittet ger detaljer om studieplanen, inklusive hur studien är utformad och vad studien mäter.

Hur är studien utformad?

Designdetaljer

  • Primärt syfte: Behandling
  • Tilldelning: Randomiserad
  • Interventionsmodell: Parallellt uppdrag
  • Maskning: Ingen (Open Label)

Vapen och interventioner

Deltagargrupp / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Aktiv komparator: Control Group (A)
Participants will receive only the standard rehabilitation program without dry needling.
Procedur: Standard Rehabilitation Program
Participants will receive a standardized rehabilitation program including stretching and eccentric strengthening exercises for hamstring muscles without dry needling.
Experimentell: Intervention Group (B)
Participants will receive dry needling treatment in addition to a standard rehabilitation program for chronic hamstring strain
Procedur: Standard Rehabilitation Program
Participants will receive a standardized rehabilitation program including stretching and eccentric strengthening exercises for hamstring muscles without dry needling.
Procedur: Dry Needling
Participants will receive dry needling treatment applied to active myofascial trigger points in the hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus). Sterile filiform needles will be inserted into identified trigger points to elicit local twitch responses and reduce muscle pain and tightness. Treatment will be performed in addition to a standardized rehabilitation program including stretching and strengthening exercises for the hamstring muscle group. Sessions will be administered over the study period according to a predefined treatment schedule.

Vad mäter studien?

Primära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Pain Intensity
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Pain intensity in chronic hamstring strain will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Measurements will be taken at baseline and after completion of the intervention period to evaluate changes in pain perception.
Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment

Sekundära resultatmått

Resultatmått
Åtgärdsbeskrivning
Tidsram
Functional Performance
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Functional outcomes will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) to evaluate the impact of intervention on daily and sports-related activities.
Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Hamstring Muscle Strength
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Hamstring muscle strength will be measured using a handheld dynamometer during maximal isometric contraction.
Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Hamstring Flexibility
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Hamstring flexibility will be assessed using the popliteal angle test with a universal goniometer.
Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Kicking Speed
Tidsram: Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment
Kicking speed will be measured using a radar gun to assess football-specific performance.
Baseline (pre-intervention) and after 6 weeks of treatment

Samarbetspartners och utredare

Det är här du hittar personer och organisationer som är involverade i denna studie.

Sponsor

Cairo University

Utredare

  • Huvudutredare: Amr Anas, BSc, Cairo University
  • Studierektor: Ebtessam Gomaa, PhD, Cairo University
  • Studierektor: Marihan Makary, Cairo University

Publikationer och användbara länkar

Den som ansvarar för att lägga in information om studien tillhandahåller frivilligt dessa publikationer. Dessa kan handla om allt som har med studien att göra.

Allmänna publikationer

  • Petersen J, Thorborg K, et al. Eccentric training prevents hamstring injuries. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(11):2296-2303.
  • Espejo-Antúnez L, et al. Dry needling systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2017;33:46-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.004
  • Ekstrand J, Hägglund M, Waldén M. Muscle injuries in professional football. Am J Sports Med. 2016;44(3):576-585. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546515621377
  • Dunning J, et al. Dry needling clinical practice review. Phys Ther Rev. 2021;26(5-6):287-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/10833196.2021.1983244
  • Croisier JL. Recurrent hamstring injury risk factors. Sports Med. 2004;34(10):681-695. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200434100-00005
  • Chaabene H, et al. Hamstring strength assessment systematic review. Sports Med Open. 2019;5:23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-019-0198-7
  • Chamorro C, et al. Reliability of handheld dynamometry and isokinetic testing. Open Med. 2014;9(4):382-397. https://doi.org/10.1515/med-2014-0058
  • Canosa-Carro L, et al. Dry needling effects on hamstring flexibility and performance. J Sport Rehabil. 2022;31(3):254-261. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2020-0225
  • Buckthorpe M, et al. Hamstring injuries in football: risk factors and RTP. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(19):1081-1091.
  • Brukner P. Hamstring injuries: prevention and treatment update. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(19):1241-1244. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-094427
  • Bourne MN, et al. Eccentric training and hamstring injury risk. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2017;27(11):1180-1187.
  • Bahr R, et al. Hamstring injury prevention programs: systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(17):1077-1085.
  • Bahr R, Thorborg K, Ekstrand J. Nordic hamstring survey and prevention adherence. Br J Sports Med. 2015;49(22):1466-1471. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094826
  • Askling CM, Tengvar M, Saartok T, Thorstensson A. Acute hamstring injuries in elite football: RCT comparing rehabilitation protocols. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47(15):953-959. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-092165
  • Ahmad CS, Redler LH, Ciccotti MG, Maffulli N, Longo UG, Bradley J. Evaluation and management of hamstring injuries. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(2):293-302. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546512466064

Studieavstämningsdatum

Dessa datum spårar framstegen för inlämningar av studieposter och sammanfattande resultat till ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter och rapporterade resultat granskas av National Library of Medicine (NLM) för att säkerställa att de uppfyller specifika kvalitetskontrollstandarder innan de publiceras på den offentliga webbplatsen.

Studera stora datum

Studiestart (Beräknad)

1 maj 2026

Primärt slutförande (Beräknad)

30 september 2026

Avslutad studie (Beräknad)

30 april 2027

Studieregistreringsdatum

Först inskickad

29 april 2026

Först inskickad som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

29 april 2026

Första postat (Faktisk)

6 maj 2026

Uppdateringar av studier

Senaste uppdatering publicerad (Faktisk)

6 maj 2026

Senaste inskickade uppdateringen som uppfyllde QC-kriterierna

29 april 2026

Senast verifierad

1 april 2026

Mer information

Termer relaterade till denna studie

Nyckelord

Ytterligare relevanta MeSH-villkor

Andra studie-ID-nummer

  • P.T.REC/012/006296

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