Dry Needling and Functional Improvement
Stopped early · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Myofascial Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial Pain Syndrome
In brief
Dry Needling (DN) is a skilled intervention that uses acupuncture filiform needles that are inserted into myofascial trigger points or other tissues underneath the skin. It is used to treat myofascial or neuromusculoskeletal pain and to improve movement impairments. Although more and more physical therapists add this treatment tool to their skill box, there is uncertainty about its working mechanism and its efficacy. The latter is partially due to the challenging task of finding and using a true control or sham treatment. The investigators will use blunted needles, which will not perforate the skin, as sham treatment. This study will assess if DN of a trigger point in the gluteal muscles increases pain pressure threshold in that muscle, in another muscle innervated by the same segment (L4/5) and in an area not supplied by the same segment (i.e. the ipsilateral posterior shoulder). In addition, this study will assess if functionality, as measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and 15-point Global Rating of Change Scale (GRoC) questionnaires, improves after 2-3 treatments (1 week) of DN.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT02838394
- Run by
- Brigham Young University
- People needed
- 20
- Starts
- 2016-12-01
- Expected to finish
- 2023-08-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2024-04-25
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- presence of at least one painful trigger point in the gluteals (gluteus maximus or medius) and infraspinatus on the same side.
You may not qualify if…
- neurologic conditions (neuropathy, myopathy)
- use of medication (antidepressants, opioids) and/or acute cervico-thoracic injury (whiplash, facet irritation, acute discopathy) that could directly influence normal somatosensory processing at the C5 segment [Srbely]
Where it is running
- Brigham Young University Athletics — Provo, Utah, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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