Hamstring Tightness

NCT ID: NCT02516137

Last Updated: 2017-06-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 28 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-07-31
• Study Completion Date: 2017-05-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out if individuals with tight hamstring muscles who receive dry needling in addition to a standard stretching exercise program, show an improvement in hamstring tightness and function compared to individuals with tight hamstrings who receive either sham dry needling or no needling (blunt needle) in addition to a standard stretching program.

Detailed Description

Tightness of the hamstring muscles is a risk factor for injury. Currently, there is no data on the effect of dry needling on hamstring extensibility or functional performance measures among asymptomatic individuals with hamstring muscle tightness. The investigator wants to assess if individuals with tight hamstring muscles who receive dry needling in addition to a standard stretching exercise program, exhibit reduced hamstring tightness and improved functional performance compared to individuals with tight hamstrings who receive either sham dry needling or no needling (blunt needle) in addition to a standard stretching program.

Conditions

Hamstring Tightness

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Dry needling group

Subjects with tight hamstrings will receive dry needling to the hamstrings with the needle inserted into the muscle tissue in addition to a standard hamstring stretching exercise program.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dry needling

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Dry needling will be performed on two points over the hamstring muscles on the randomly determined side. Points 2 cm distal to the ischial tuberosity and halfway between the ischial tuberosity and popliteal crease within the medial and lateral muscle bellies will be identified and the skin cleansed with rubbing alcohol. A Seirin L- type 50 mm needle will be inserted into each of the two points to a depth no greater than three-quarters length of the needle into the hamstring muscle for 30 seconds using a vertical pistoning technique and then statically up to 10 minutes.

Standard hamstring stretching exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Subjects will be instructed to stretch the back of their thighs, once a day for 3 repetitions, holding for 30 seconds each time performed bilaterally.

Sham dry needling group

Subjects with tight hamstrings will receive sham dry needling to the hamstrings with the needle inserted into the subcutaneous tissue in addition to a standard hamstring stretching exercise program.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham needling

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Sham dry needling will be performed on two points over the hamstring muscles on the randomly determined side. Points 2 cm distal to the ischial tuberosity and halfway between the ischial tuberosity and popliteal crease within the medial and lateral muscle bellies will be identified and the skin cleansed with rubbing alcohol. The plastic tube of a Seirin L- type 50 mm needle will be placed against the skin and the needle will be tapped once so that it is inserted subcutaneously no deeper than 5 mm for 30 seconds using a vertical pistoning technique and then statically up to 10 minutes in each location.

Standard hamstring stretching exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Subjects will be instructed to stretch the back of their thighs, once a day for 3 repetitions, holding for 30 seconds each time performed bilaterally.

No needling group

Subjects with tight hamstrings will receive no needling but have the tip of a blunt needle handle placed on the skin over the hamstrings in addition to a standard hamstring stretching exercise program.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Blunt needle placement

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Blunt needle placement will be performed on two points over the hamstring muscles on the randomly determined side. Points 2 cm distal to the ischial tuberosity and halfway between the ischial tuberosity and popliteal crease within the medial and lateral muscle bellies will be identified and the skin cleansed with rubbing alcohol. A blunt needle handle is inserted into a plastic tube which will be placed over the identified points for 30 seconds and then for an additional 10 minutes each. The blunt needle handle only touches the skin without puncturing it.

Standard hamstring stretching exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Subjects will be instructed to stretch the back of their thighs, once a day for 3 repetitions, holding for 30 seconds each time performed bilaterally.

Interventions

Dry needling

Dry needling will be performed on two points over the hamstring muscles on the randomly determined side. Points 2 cm distal to the ischial tuberosity and halfway between the ischial tuberosity and popliteal crease within the medial and lateral muscle bellies will be identified and the skin cleansed with rubbing alcohol. A Seirin L- type 50 mm needle will be inserted into each of the two points to a depth no greater than three-quarters length of the needle into the hamstring muscle for 30 seconds using a vertical pistoning technique and then statically up to 10 minutes.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Sham needling

Sham dry needling will be performed on two points over the hamstring muscles on the randomly determined side. Points 2 cm distal to the ischial tuberosity and halfway between the ischial tuberosity and popliteal crease within the medial and lateral muscle bellies will be identified and the skin cleansed with rubbing alcohol. The plastic tube of a Seirin L- type 50 mm needle will be placed against the skin and the needle will be tapped once so that it is inserted subcutaneously no deeper than 5 mm for 30 seconds using a vertical pistoning technique and then statically up to 10 minutes in each location.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Blunt needle placement

Blunt needle placement will be performed on two points over the hamstring muscles on the randomly determined side. Points 2 cm distal to the ischial tuberosity and halfway between the ischial tuberosity and popliteal crease within the medial and lateral muscle bellies will be identified and the skin cleansed with rubbing alcohol. A blunt needle handle is inserted into a plastic tube which will be placed over the identified points for 30 seconds and then for an additional 10 minutes each. The blunt needle handle only touches the skin without puncturing it.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Standard hamstring stretching exercise

Subjects will be instructed to stretch the back of their thighs, once a day for 3 repetitions, holding for 30 seconds each time performed bilaterally.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Hamstring 90/90 extensibility goniometric measurement of more than 20 degrees of knee flexion bilaterally
• Ability to perform a squat to 90 degrees of knee flexion without assistance of the upper extremities
• Asymptomatic during walking

Exclusion Criteria

• History of systemic neurological or arthritic condition
• History of bony or peripheral nerve trauma or surgery lower extremities
• History of treatment with dry needling
• No contraindications to dry needling

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Emory University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Marie Johanson

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Marie Johanson, PT, PhD, OCS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Emory University

Locations

Emory Clinic

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

IRB00077095

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id