Effect of the Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Neuromodulation on the Mean Velocity in Crossfit Practitioners.
Effect of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Neuromodulation of the Transversus Abdominis on the Force-Velocity Profile During the Squat Performance in Crossfit Practitioners.
CEU San Pablo University
42 participants
Jul 8, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This randomized controlled blinded clinical trial aims to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation (US-guided PNM) targeting the innervation of the transversus abdominis muscle on squat performance in CrossFit practitioners. The transversus abdominis is a deep trunk muscle that contributes to lumbopelvic stability and force transmission during functional and athletic movements. Previous research suggests that improving neuromuscular activation of the trunk musculature may enhance movement efficiency and performance during resistance exercises. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation is a minimally invasive technique that applies electrical stimulation through a needle placed close to a peripheral nerve under ultrasound guidance, with the aim of modulating neuromuscular function. Healthy male and female CrossFit practitioners aged 18 to 60 years, with at least one year of training experience, will participate in the study. Participants will undergo an initial ultrasound assessment of transversus abdominis activation to classify and distribute the sample into groups. In a second session, mean velocity, mean propulsive velocity, and velocity loss during squat performance will be assessed using a linear velocity transducer. Participants will perform 3 sets of 2 repetitions of the squat exercise at 80% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). Following baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves, or a sham group receiving needle insertion without electrical stimulation. The intervention will consist of a TENS-type current applied at 10 Hz for 10 cycles of 10 seconds. Squat performance variables will be reassessed immediately after the intervention. The purpose of this study is to determine whether US-guided percutaneous neuromodulation can acutely improve squat performance in trained CrossFit practitioners. The study hypothesis is that participants receiving active neuromodulation will demonstrate greater improvements in squat execution velocity and lower velocity loss compared with participants receiving the sham intervention.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Age between 18 and 60 years
- At least 1 year of CrossFit training experience
- Training frequency between 2 and 6 sessions per week
Exclusion Criteria16
- Belonephobia (fear of needles)
- Presence of cardiac conditions or implanted cardiac devices (e.g., pacemaker)
- Pregnancy
- Active oncological process
- Skin conditions or lesions in the intervention area
- Neurological or neurosensory disorders
- Epilepsy
- Current febrile condition
- Recent use of antibiotics
- Treatment with anticoagulant medication
- Use of medications that may affect physical performance
- Autoimmune diseases or use of immunosuppressive therapy
- Active lumbar or abdominal pathology
- Recent lumbar surgery or operations related to the intervention area
- Active musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting squat technique or -performance
- Undiagnosed pain affecting execution of the sporting movement.
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Interventions
The intervention will be applied using ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves. The procedure will be performed under ultrasound guidance using a sterile percutaneous needle. In the experimental group, electrical stimulation will be delivered through the needle at a frequency of 10 Hz in 10-second cycles. Stimulation intensity will be adjusted according to participant tolerance, without exceeding the pain threshold.
The sham intervention consists of an ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle insertion performed in the same anatomical region as the experimental procedure (iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves), using identical positioning and procedural setup. No electrical stimulation is delivered through the needle at any point during the procedure. The duration and handling of the procedure are matched to the experimental condition to ensure participant blinding.
Locations(1)
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NCT07684534