Effects of Dry Needling on Latent Myofascial Trigger Points of the Extensor Digitorum Communis
Effects of Dry Needling and Electrical Dry Needling on Latent Myofascial Trigger Points of the Extensor Digitorum Communis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Dry Needling Technique
- Trigger Point Pain
- Physical Therapy
At a glance
- Phase
- Phase not stated
- Study type
- Interventional
- Sponsor
- University Rovira i Virgili
- Enrolment target
- 150
- Started
- 1 July 2026
- Main results due
- 30 September 2026
- Study sites
- 1
- Registry updated
- 24 September 2026
Can you take part?
- Ages 18 years to 40 years.
- Open to any sex.
- Healthy volunteers can take part.
These are the headline rules only. Every study has a longer list, and whether you are eligible is decided by the research team at the site — never by this page.
Read the full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 to 40 years. * Healthy participants with a latent myofascial trigger point in the extensor digitorum muscle of the dominant forearm. * No pathology affecting the upper limb where the intervention will be applied. * No episode of pain in the upper limb during at least the previous two months. * No contraindications to dry needling or electrical dry needling techniques. * Voluntary signature of the informed consent form. * Willingness to follow the protocol proposed by the research team. Exclusion Criteria: * Needle phobia. * Coagulation disorders. * Pregnancy. * Thyroid disorders. * Altered skin integrity in the treatment area. * Epilepsy. * Local or systemic infection. * Diagnosed neurological disorders affecting pain perception or neuromuscular function in the region of interest, such as multiple sclerosis or peripheral neuropathies. * Generalized chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia. * Weekly use of analgesic medication, including anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, or other pain-relieving medication.
What this study is about
In the sponsor’s own words, from the registry.
This randomized single-blind clinical trial aims to compare the effects of different dry needling and electrical dry needling techniques applied to latent myofascial trigger points in the extensor digitorum muscle of the dominant forearm in healthy adults.
Participants will be randomly allocated to one of five groups: a control group, a Hong fast-in and fast-out dry needling group, a rotational dry needling group, a bipolar electrical dry needling group, or a monopolar electrical dry needling group. The main outcomes will be post-needling soreness intensity and duration. Secondary outcomes will include pain during the needling procedure, pressure pain threshold assessed by algometry, handgrip strength, range of motion of finger flexion and wrist palmar flexion, perceived comfort during the intervention, and perceived interference of post-needling soreness with daily activities.
Assessments will be performed at baseline, 5 minutes after the intervention, and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the intervention.
Study sites(1)
Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut
Reus, Tarragona, Spain
Recruiting
Showing 1 of 1 sites. 1 of the 1 site on this study is recruiting right now — a site can stop enrolling while the study as a whole is still open.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT07672093. Trialion does not run this study, is not paid to refer anyone to it, and cannot enrol you. Eligibility is always decided by the research team at the site.
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