{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T20:31:44Z","timestamp":1791837104377,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,26]],"date-time":"2022-11-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1669420800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) consists of the ultrasound-guided application of a galvanic electrical current through a solid filament needle. One proposed therapeutic mechanism for this intervention is a potential thermal effect. The aim of this study was to investigate if the application of PNE induces changes in temperature in different cadaveric musculoskeletal tissues. A repeated measure experimental cadaveric study was designed with 10 cryopreserved knees (5 men, 5 women). Sterile stainless-steel needles of 40 mm length and 0.30 mm caliber were used in this study. An ultrasound-guided needling puncture was performed in the targeted tissue (patellar tendon, infra-patellar fat, and vastus medialis muscle). Additionally, the tip of the needle was placed next to the thermometer sensor at the minimum possible distance without direct contact with it. The temperature differences before and after different applications were measured. The applications were: three applications for 3 s of 3 mA of intensity (3:3:3) when the tendon was the targeted tissue, three applications for 3 s of 1.5 mA of intensity (1.5:3:3) when the fat or muscle was the targeted tissue, and 24 s of 1 mA of intensity (1:24:1) in all tissues. No statistically significant Group*Time interactions were found in any tissue (tendon: F = 0.571, p = 0.459, \u014b2 = 0.03; fat pad: F = 0.093; p = 0.764, \u014b2 = 0.01; muscle: F = 0.681; p = 0.420, \u014b2 = 0.04). Overall, no changes in temperature were observed between both applications in the tendon (3:3:3 vs. 1:24:1) and fat\/muscle (1.5:3:3 vs. 1:24:1) tissues. The application of two different percutaneous needle electrolysis protocols did not produce appreciable thermal changes in the tendon, fat, and muscle tissues of human cadavers. The results from the current cadaver study support that a thermal effect should not be considered as a mechanism of clinical action regardless of the targeted human tissue when applying percutaneous needle electrolysis since no changes in temperature after its application were observed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph192315738","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,30]],"date-time":"2022-11-30T04:58:50Z","timestamp":1669784330000},"page":"15738","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["Application of Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis Does Not Elicit Temperature Changes: An In Vitro Cadaveric Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Sergio","family":"Borrella-Andr\u00e9s","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Sciences Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Miguel","family":"Malo-Urri\u00e9s","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Sciences Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5607-0708","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Albert","family":"P\u00e9rez-Bellmunt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"ACTIUM Functional Anatomy Group, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vall\u00e8s, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8548-4427","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 L.","family":"Arias-Bur\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0419-1943","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jacobo","family":"Rodr\u00edguez-Sanz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"ACTIUM Functional Anatomy Group, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vall\u00e8s, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1292-3163","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mar\u00eda Isabel","family":"Albarova-Corral","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Sciences Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7137-3184","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vanessa","family":"Gonz\u00e1lez-Rueda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"ACTIUM Functional Anatomy Group, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vall\u00e8s, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Fundaci\u00f3 Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l\u2019Atenci\u00f3 Prim\u00e0ria de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, 08007 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3471-3717","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gracia M.","family":"Gallego-Sendarrubias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Camilo Jos\u00e9 Cela University, 28692 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3772-9690","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"C\u00e9sar","family":"Fern\u00e1ndez-de-las-Pe\u00f1as","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9524-4248","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"L\u00f3pez-de-Celis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"ACTIUM Functional Anatomy Group, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vall\u00e8s, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Fundaci\u00f3 Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l\u2019Atenci\u00f3 Prim\u00e0ria de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, 08007 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"S\u00e1nchez Iba\u00f1ez, J.M. (2009). Clinical Course in the Treatment of Chronic Patellar Tendinopathy through Ultrasound Guided Percutaneous Electrolysis Intratissue (EPI\u00ae): Study of a Population Series of Cases in Sport. [Ph.D. Thesis, Atlantic International University]."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abat, F., Valles, S.L., Gelber, P.E., Polidori, F., Jorda, A., Garc\u00eda-Herreros, S., Monllau, J.C., and Sanchez-Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez, J.M. (2015). An Experimental Study of Muscular Injury Repair in a Mouse Model of Notexin-Induced Lesion with EPI\u00ae Technique. BMC Sports Sci. Med. Rehabil., 7.","DOI":"10.1186\/s13102-015-0002-0"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.32098\/mltj.02.2016.13","article-title":"Treatment of Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy Related Sciatic Nerve Entrapment: Presentation of an Ultrasound-Guided \u201cIntratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis\u201d Application","volume":"6","author":"Mattiussi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Muscles Ligaments Tendons J."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6615563","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/6615563","article-title":"Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis Reverses Neurographic Signs of Nerve Entrapment by Induced Fibrosis in Mice","volume":"2020","author":"Margalef","year":"2020","journal-title":"Evid.-Based Complement. Altern. Med."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"1000113","article-title":"New Technique in Tendon Sport Recovery. Percutaneous Electrolysis Intratissue (EPI\u00ae)","volume":"1","author":"Colmena","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Phys. Med. R. habil."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"674","DOI":"10.1016\/j.semcdb.2008.12.009","article-title":"Electrical Fields in Wound Healing-An Overriding Signal That Directs Cell Migration","volume":"20","author":"Zhao","year":"2009","journal-title":"Semin. Cell Dev. Biol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rodr\u00edguez-Huguet, M., G\u00f3ngora-Rodr\u00edguez, J., Rodr\u00edguez-Huguet, P., Iba\u00f1ez-Vera, A.J., Rodr\u00edguez-Almagro, D., Mart\u00edn-Valero, R., D\u00edaz-Fern\u00e1ndez, \u00c1., and Lomas-Vega, R. (2020). Effectiveness of percutaneous electrolysis in supraspinatus tendinopathy: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial. J. Clin. Med., 6.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm9061837"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1046","DOI":"10.1007\/s00167-014-2855-2","article-title":"Clinica Results after Ultrasound-Guided Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis (EPI\u00ae) and Eccentric Exercise in the Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy","volume":"23","author":"Abat","year":"2015","journal-title":"Knee Surg. Sport. Traumatol. Arthrosc."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1229","DOI":"10.1016\/j.otsr.2017.09.012","article-title":"A Novel Approach in the Treatment of Acute Whiplash Syndrome: Ultrasound-Guided Needle Percutaneous Electrolysis. A Randomized Controlled Trial","volume":"103","year":"2017","journal-title":"Orthop. Traumatol. Surg. Res."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1055","DOI":"10.1093\/pm\/pnaa342","article-title":"Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Electrolysis for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"22","author":"Cleland","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pain Med."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"18","article-title":"Effects of Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis of the Patellar Tendon on Local and Contralateral Temperature, Measured with Infrared Thermography","volume":"1","author":"Carvajal","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rev. Fisioter. Invasiva"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"471","DOI":"10.1177\/0964528420988007","article-title":"Safety Analysis of Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis: A Study of Needle Composition, Morphology, and Electrical Resistance","volume":"39","author":"Margalef","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acupunct. Med."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"1","article-title":"Is tecar therapy effective on biceps femoris and quadriceps rehabilitation? a cadaveric study","volume":"1","author":"Ragazzi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Sport Rehabil."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11845","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-16189-0","article-title":"Comparison of resistive capacitive energy transfer therapy on cadaveric molars and incisors with and without implants","volume":"12","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1089\/acu.2012.0890","article-title":"Recommendations for Best Needling Practices with Respect to Skin Preparation","volume":"24","author":"McDaniels","year":"2012","journal-title":"Med. Acupunct."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Standring, S. (2008). Gray\u2019s Anatomy, Elsevier. [40th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3034","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radcr.2021.07.033","article-title":"Crossed Doubled Patellar Tendon: A Rare Anatomical Variant with Potential Clinical Significance","volume":"16","author":"Xian","year":"2021","journal-title":"Radiol. Case Rep."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1111\/joa.12820","article-title":"The Infrapatellar Fat Pad and the Synovial Membrane: An Anatomo-Functional Unit","volume":"233","author":"Macchi","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Anat."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"916","DOI":"10.1177\/0013164404264848","article-title":"Cautionary Note on Reporting Eta-Squared Values from Multifactor ANOVA Designs","volume":"64","author":"Pierce","year":"2004","journal-title":"Educ. Psychol. Meas."},{"key":"ref_20","first-page":"41","article-title":"Current Body Composition Measurement Techniques","volume":"32","author":"Gong","year":"2010","journal-title":"Physiol. Behav."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"a034405","DOI":"10.1101\/cshperspect.a034405","article-title":"Electrical Impedance Methods in Neuromuscular Assessment: An Overview","volume":"9","author":"Rutkove","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Med."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"e454","article-title":"Randomized, Double-Blind Study Comparing Percutaneous Electrolysis and Dry Needling for the Management of Temporomandibular Myofascial Pain","volume":"23","year":"2018","journal-title":"Med. Oral Patol. Oral Cir. Bucal"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Varela-Rodr\u00edguez, S., S\u00e1nchez-S\u00e1nchez, J.L., Velasco, E., Delicado-Miralles, M., and S\u00e1nchez-Gonz\u00e1lez, J.L. (2022). Endogenous Pain Modulation in Response to a Single Session of Percutaneous Electrolysis in Healthy Population: A Double-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial. J. Clin. Med., 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm11102889"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e73675","DOI":"10.7554\/eLife.73675","article-title":"Galvanic Current Activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome to Promote Type I Collagen Production in Tendon","volume":"11","author":"Bueno","year":"2022","journal-title":"Elife"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1445-2197.2002.02471.x","article-title":"Electrolytic Ablation as an Adjunct to Liver Resection: Safety and Efficacy in Patients","volume":"72","author":"Berry","year":"2002","journal-title":"ANZ J. Surg."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/23\/15738\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:27:16Z","timestamp":1760146036000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/19\/23\/15738"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,26]]},"references-count":25,"journal-issue":{"issue":"23","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph192315738"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph192315738","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,26]]}}}