Can dry needling loosen a stiff ankle?
NCT ID NCT07474948
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at how a single session of dry needling the soleus muscle affects ankle movement and muscle function in people with limited ankle flexibility. Researchers will measure ankle bending, force, muscle activity, and tissue stiffness in 40 participants. The goal is to understand if dry needling can provide immediate improvements in ankle mobility.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- dry needling
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that dry needling is a useful short-term technique to improve ankle mobility and muscle function.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early observational study with only 40 participants. It only looks at immediate effects, so long-term benefits are unknown.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2026
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 40 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals must present with decreased dorsiflexion measurement during screening of 35° or less unilaterally or bilaterally based on the weight bearing lunge test Exclusion Criteria: * Current and/or historical lower extremity injury or surgery within the last six months * Musculoskeletal or neurological disorders that could impact balance or normal lower extremity function * Extreme phobia of needles * On blood thinners * Chance of pregnancy * Known problems with immune system, * Presence of diseases or infections that can be spread through bodily fluids
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Dayton
Dayton, Ohio, 45440, United States