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IRCT20260201068721N1 IRCT 2026-06-12 Tehran University of Medical Sciences Investigating the immediate and short-term effectiveness of adding the muscle energy technique to dry needling on pain and function in amateur bodybuilders with chronic non-specific low back pain Investigating the immediate and short-term effectiveness of adding the muscle energy technique to dry needling on pain and function in amateur bodybuilders with chronic non-specific low back pain 2026-05-22 anticipated 20 Recruiting https://irct.ir/trial/88923 interventional Randomization: Randomized, Blinding: Double blinded, Placebo: Used, Assignment: Parallel, Purpose: Treatment, Randomization description: To determine the treatment group of the individuals, first, the questionnaire is duplicated according to the number of participants. Code 1 is written on them for the dry needling group and code 2 for the combination therapy group and the sheets are mixed together. The examiner randomly selects one of these sheets for each patient, Blinding description: In addition to this treatment, individuals in the dry needling group will undergo placebo MET treatment (position and method of treatment are the same as real MET treatment but without isometric contraction) for the target muscle. The evaluator and the therapist are different individuals, and the evaluator is unaware of the type of treatment received. N/A Low Back Pain. Intervention 1: Intervention group: Dry needling with muscle energy technique group. For the erector spinae muscles, a total of 10 needles are inserted bilaterally, 25 mm to the left and right of the spinous processes, and remain in the area for 10 minutes. For the quadratus lumborum muscles, a needle is inserted laterally from the L4 vertebra directly downwards in the direction of the transverse process of the vertebra and remains in the area for 10 minutes. Muscle energy technique treatment for these muscles is also a 10-second resistive contraction of the muscle in the opposite direction of the therapist's pressure with 20-35% of the maximum voluntary contraction, followed by 30 seconds of stretching with 3 repetitions for each muscle. The number of treatment sessions is one session. Intervention 2: Control group: Dry needling with sham muscle energy technique group. IN the control group, all treatments will be performed similarly to the intervention group, with the difference that the muscle energy technique in this group will be performed as a placebo or unreal method, meaning without voluntary muscle contraction. Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available Justification or reason for indecision in sharing IPD is I haven't consulted with the professors and haven't made a decision yet.
public Morteza Mahi
No 57 , Somayie Ave , Ferdowsi Square , Tehran Town
Tehran Iran (Islamic Republic of) 1581749811 +98 921 200 5384 Mortezamahi61@gmail.com Tehran University of Medical Sciences scientific Dr sophia Naghdi
School of Rehabilitation , Safi Alishah St , Shemiran Intersection , Enghelab St, Tehran
Tehran Iran (Islamic Republic of) 1148965111 +98 912 297 9310 naghdi@tums.ac.ir Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iran (Islamic Republic of) Male bodybuilders with at least 6 months of training experience and at least 2 training sessions per week Age range between 18-45 years old Having back pain without a specific cause or pathology for at least three months or more Being able to read and write in Persian Pain intensity between 3 and 7 based on VAS 18 years 45 years Male People whose back pain is caused by a specific cause such as radiculopathy, tumor, vertebral fracture, or any other specific cause. History of back and hip surgery Having systemic diseases such as arthritis or tuberculosis Needle phobia Receiving other back treatments at the same time M54.5 Low back pain Treatment - Other Treatment - Other Intervention group: Dry needling with muscle energy technique group. For the erector spinae muscles, a total of 10 needles are inserted bilaterally, 25 mm to the left and right of the spinous processes, and remain in the area for 10 minutes. For the quadratus lumborum muscles, a needle is inserted laterally from the L4 vertebra directly downwards in the direction of the transverse process of the vertebra and remains in the area for 10 minutes. Muscle energy technique treatment for these muscles is also a 10-second resistive contraction of the muscle in the opposite direction of the therapist's pressure with 20-35% of the maximum voluntary contraction, followed by 30 seconds of stretching with 3 repetitions for each muscle. The number of treatment sessions is one session. Control group: Dry needling with sham muscle energy technique group. IN the control group, all treatments will be performed similarly to the intervention group, with the difference that the muscle energy technique in this group will be performed as a placebo or unreal method, meaning without voluntary muscle contraction. Pain. Timepoint: Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. Method of measurement: by using visual analog scale. Function. Timepoint: Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. Method of measurement: by using functional rating index. Back Muscles Endurance. Timepoint: Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. Method of measurement: By Sorensen Test. Lumbar Flexion Range Of Motion. Timepoint: Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. Method of measurement: The distance between two specific points on the lumbar spine in flexion and extension is measured and recorded. Lumbar Side Flexion Range Of Motion. Timepoint: Before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. Method of measurement: By goniometer. Tehran University of Medical Sciences Approved 2026-02-23 Ethics committee of School of Nursing and Rehabilitation Of Tehran University of Medical Sciences Next to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Dr. Gharib Intersection, Nosrat Street Tehran Tehran Iran (Islamic Republic of)