Effects of dry needling on spasticity and motor function in paralympic athletes: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Autor: Soofia Naghdi, Fatemeh Aliasgharpour, Roshanak Honarpishe, Seyed Hossein Hosseini-Asl, Mohammad Saeid Khonji, Faezeh Abbaschian, Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari, Pablo Herrero Gallego, Amin Nakhostin-Ansari
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, Vol 10, Iss 2 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2055-7647
DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002096
Popis: No study has evaluated the effects of dry needling on Paralympic athletes. Therefore, in this study, we will evaluate the effect of dry needling on lower limb spasticity and motor performance, as well as the range of motion of Paralympic athletes. The study will be a triple-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Twenty-four athletes aged 18–45 in T35–T38 groups of the International Paralympic Committee classification will be included in the study. Twelve participants will receive dry needling of the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles, and 12 will receive placebo treatment with sham needles at similar points. We will assess the spasticity of the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles using the Modified Ashworth Scale, evaluate motor function using the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity Scale and measure ankle range of motion (ROM) with a goniometer. Considering our hypothesis, the athletes who will undergo the dry needling are supposed to achieve better improvements in spasticity, ROM and motor performance. This study can provide useful information to help better decide on managing complications in Paralympics and its long-term outcomes, to cover the current lack in the literature.
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