Can needles beat hamstring pain? new trial for athletes
NCT ID NCT07569484
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether dry needling, a technique where thin needles are inserted into muscle trigger points, can reduce pain and improve movement in athletes with chronic hamstring strain. Thirty-eight male football players will receive either dry needling plus standard rehab or rehab alone. The goal is to see if this approach helps them recover faster and perform better.
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 it works, this could give athletes a simple, drug-free option to ease chronic hamstring pain and get back to sport faster.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 38 male football players, so results may not apply to everyone. Dry needling may cause temporary soreness or bruising.
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 38 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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May 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2027
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 35 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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: * Male football players aged 18 to 35 years. * Diagnosed with chronic hamstring strain (CHS) confirmed by ultrasonography. * Injury duration of more than 3 months. * Classified as Grade I or Grade II hamstring strain. * Currently participating in the competitive phase of football. * Body Mass Index (BMI) between 21-25 kg/m². Exclusion Criteria: * Previous exposure to dry needling therapy. * Presence of any other current lower limb injuries. * Participation in another hamstring rehabilitation program. * Active skin infection at or near the treatment area. * Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant medications. * Severe needle phobia or psychological intolerance to needling. * Presence of neuromuscular disorders (e.g., muscular dystrophy or peripheral neuropathy).
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Abu Qir General Hospital
Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt
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