CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04600830Updated May 11, 2021

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Dry Needling Versus Foam Roller

An interventional study of Dry needling in Myofascial Pain Syndromes and Dry Needling, sponsored by Fundación Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir. Completed at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-05-11.

Sponsored by Fundación Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 5 months after the study started (first participant enrolled May 2020, registered Oct 2020).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
45
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 35 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To compare the effects of dry needling and Foam roller in myofascial trigger points. Needling has been shown to decrease pain in the short term; however, its effects on muscle force production are unclear. There are differences between dry needling and foam roller after treatment?

Read the detailed description

Background: It has been shown that the decrease of the range of motion in the ankle, due to the presence of latent trigger points in the gastro-sole complex, can affect performance, as well as being a predisposing factor to injury. Objective: To compare the effects of Dry Needling and Foam roller in healthy athletes with limited dorsal ankle flexion by the presence of latent trigger points. Material and methods: This is a clinical trial, single-blind experimental study. The sample will have a total of 44 students, volunteers, healthy of the degree of physiotherapy of the the investigator's university (UCV). Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned in two groups: Group 1 or Dry Needling (N = 22) and Group 2 or Foam Roller (N = 22). The range of motion of ankle will be assessed through the Leg Motion system (Check Your Motion®, Albacete, Spain). Assessed thought Ankle Test (post-intervention and 24 hours later). The reference values to consider the decreased ankle ROM will be \<11.5 cm, \<35º measured with Easy Angle® digital goniometer (Meloq AB, Sweden) and/or if it has a difference of 1.5 cm between both extremities. Thus, the effect on previous activity performance will be assessed thought the Counter Movement Jump. Data analysis: Once the distribution of the sample is determined, a descriptive analysis of the data will be carried out and an ANOVA of repeated measures. Will be used to compare the data found in the two groups that make up the study taking into account a 95% CI and an error less than 0.05.

02

Conditions studied

  • Myofascial Pain Syndromes
  • Dry Needling

Keywords

  • Dry needling
  • Myofascial pain syndromes
  • Ankle joint
03

In context

Myofascial Pain Syndromes

1,136 studies on the registry are indexed under Myofascial Pain Syndromes; 137 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 45 is below the median of 60 across 931 interventional studies indexed under Myofascial Pain Syndromes.

Browse Myofascial Pain Syndromes studies →

Lead sponsor

Fundación Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir is the lead sponsor of 25 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 35 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Students of physiotherapy degree of the university
  • All participants who present restriction on active ankle dorsiflexion (\<35º).
  • They must be diagnosed through manual therapy of latent PG in the gastro-soleus complex.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects suffering from belonephobia
  • Pathology of connective tissue
  • Coagulation problems
  • Lymphatic disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Surgical history in the lower limb (last 12 months)
  • Prior treatment with dry needling (last 6 months)
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
45 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Dry Needling Group

    Dry needling will be applied to the myofascial trigger points of the gastrocnemius muscle. With the dry needle (0.3 x 40 mm. Myofib, Toledo, Spain). Thus, insert the needle until you get the first twitch response. Once the first twitch response is obtained, the needle will move about 2-3 mm vertically quickly. Twenty-five insertions without leaving the skin. The approximate frequency of 1 Hz for 25 to 30 seconds.

    Procedure: Dry needling

  • Active comparator
    Foam Roller Group

    The myofascial self-release technique with the FR Black Roll PRO (Bottighogen, Switzerland). The subject will move his body in the same direction as the muscle fibers, using his hands to propel and get the roller to slide back and forth. The device will only be applied at the muscular level, avoid the area of the Achilles tendon. It will be repeated on the contralateral leg. A total of three 60-second steps is executed on each leg and a 30-second break between both.

    Procedure: Dry needling

Interventions

  • ProcedureDry needling

    Intervention with deep dry needling on latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in gastrocnemius muscle.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Range of motion (ROM)

    Range of motion (ROM) is a key measurement to help in detecting and diagnosing musculoskeletal deficits, monitoring treatment progression, and guiding the treatment plan. Measurement of ROM is a relevant point and an important item of the joint evaluation process when using any ankle scoring system as part of the ankle and ankle joint evaluation. ROM of ankle joint in load PRE, POST treatment and POST 24 hours after of intervention.

    Time frame: 48 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Lunge / Ankle Test Test

    he Weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) or Dorsiflexion Lunge Test (DFT) is used to assess the dorsiflexion range of movement (DROM) at the ankle joint. Participants are instructed to lunge forward until their knee touches the wall (vertical line). The heel is required to remain in contact with the floor at all times. The foot is moved away from the wall to the point where the knee can only make slight contact with the Wall.

    Time frame: 48 hours

  2. Counter Movement Jump (CMJ)

    The countermovement jump (CMJ) is a simple, practical, valid, and very reliable measure of lower-body power. This suggests that performances in the CMJ are linked with maximal speed, maximal strength, and explosive-strength. When the CMJ is performed using the arm-swing, performances can be ≥10% higher than when they include no arm-swing. Contact mats, force platforms, accelerometers, high-speed cameras, and infrared platforms have all been shown to provide a valid and reliable measure of CMJ performance - though force platforms are considered as the 'gold-standard'.

    Time frame: 48 hours

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Juan Vicente Mampel
    Valencia, 46021, Spain
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Grieve R, Clark J, Pearson E, Bullock S, Boyer C, Jarrett A. The immediate effect of soleus trigger point pressure release on restricted ankle joint dorsiflexion: A pilot randomised controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2011 Jan;15(1):42-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2010.02.005. Epub 2010 Mar 23. PubMed 21147417 ↗
  • Gerwin RD. A review of myofascial pain and fibromyalgia--factors that promote their persistence. Acupunct Med. 2005 Sep;23(3):121-34. doi: 10.1136/aim.23.3.121. PubMed 16259310 ↗
  • de Benito AM, Valldecabres R, Ceca D, Richards J, Barrachina Igual J, Pablos A. Effect of vibration vs non-vibration foam rolling techniques on flexibility, dynamic balance and perceived joint stability after fatigue. PeerJ. 2019 Nov 26;7:e8000. doi: 10.7717/peerj.8000. eCollection 2019. PubMed 31788353 ↗
  • Calatayud J, Martin F, Gargallo P, Garcia-Redondo J, Colado JC, Marin PJ. The validity and reliability of a new instrumented device for measuring ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2015 Apr;10(2):197-202. PubMed 25883868 ↗
  • Grieve R, Goodwin F, Alfaki M, Bourton AJ, Jeffries C, Scott H. The immediate effect of bilateral self myofascial release on the plantar surface of the feet on hamstring and lumbar spine flexibility: A pilot randomised controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2015 Jul;19(3):544-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2014.12.004. Epub 2014 Dec 18. PubMed 26118527 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 11, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04600830
Lead sponsor
Fundación Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 23, 2020
Start date
May 1, 2020
Primary completion
May 15, 2020
Completion
May 10, 2021
Last update
May 11, 2021

Study contacts

Juan Vicente
principal investigator · Fundacion UCV

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in May 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion