2026-10-212026-10-212026PINTO, Ana Leticia Cardoso. Efeitos agudos do dry needling aplicado em pontos-gatilhos nos músculos gastrocnêmios de corredores de rua recreacionais : um ensaio clínico randomizado. Orientador: Smayk Barbosa Sousa. 2026. 65 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional) - Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. Universidade do Estado do Pará, 2026https://portaldaposgraduacao.uepa.br/handle/riuepa/376AbertoReabilitaçãoMúsculoPonto-gatilhoDesempenho físicoPlaceboRehabilitationMusclesTrigger pointsPhysical performancePlaceboEfeitos agudos do dry needling aplicado em pontos-gatilhos nos músculos gastrocnêmios de corredores de rua recreacionais : um ensaio clínico randomizadoAcute effects of dry needling applied to trigger points in the gastrocnemius muscles of recreational road runners: a randomized clinical trialDissertaçãoCiências BiológicasRecreational street running may be associated with musculoskeletal alterations, including myofascial trigger points related to pain and muscular overload. Dry Needling is used in the management of these trigger points, with the potential to reduce pain and improve muscle function. Objective: To compare the effects of Dry Needling and Sham applied to myofascial trigger points on gastrocnemius pain, functional performance, and sports performance in recreational street runners. Methods: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted with 19 recreational street runners, allocated to the Dry Needling and Sham groups. Participants were assessed before and immediately after a single intervention for pain using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale, ankle dorsiflexion using the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT), and sports performance using a 3- km time trial. Results: A significant reduction in pain was observed between assessment moments (p<0.001; η²G=0.154), with no difference between groups (p=0.652) or group × time interaction (p=0.724). No significant differences were observed in the WBLT between moments (p=0.137), groups (p=0.880), or in the interaction (p=0.739). In the 3-km time trial, the Dry Needling group reduced its mean time from 1067±231 to 984±218 seconds, whereas the Sham group increased from 1016±257 to 1044±261 seconds. There was no significant effect of time (p=0.310) or group (p=0.970), with a borderline group × time interaction (p=0.050; η²G=0.015). Conclusion: A single session of Dry Needling reduced pain, but showed no superiority over Sham and produced no significant effects on ankle dorsiflexion or sports performance.PPGREAB - Avaliação e intervenção terapêutica nos sistemas neuromuscular