Study Evaluating the Benefit of Dry Needling for Patients With Neck Pain

NCT ID: NCT01301170

Last Updated: 2011-02-23

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 66 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2011-02-28
• Study Completion Date: 2012-03-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether individuals with neck pain will respond favorably to a program of manual therapy, directed at the cervical and thoracic spine (including thrust manipulation), and exercise, in combination with dry needling, as compared to manual therapy, directed to the cervical and thoracic spine (including thrust manipulation), and an exercise program alone.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Interventions

dry needling

The needling will take place bilaterally at both the suboccipital region and the paravertebral muscles between C4 and T4. The needling will take place with the patient in the prone position. Following all needle placement, they will rotated clockwise till the point that tension on the needle is felt by the therapist. This will create more tension between the needle and tissue fibers, after which the needles were removed.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age between 18-60 years old

2. Primary complaint of neck pain

3. Restricted cervical extension/and or cervical rotation ROM

4. Neck Disability Index > 20 points

Exclusion Criteria

1. Red flags noted in the patient's Neck Medical Screening Questionnaire (i.e. tumor, fracture, metabolic diseases, RA, osteoporosis, prolonged history of steroid use, symptoms of vertebrobasilary insufficiency, pregnancy, cervical spinal stenosis, bilateral upper extremity symptoms etc.

2. Use of blood thinners

3. History of whiplash injury within the past six weeks

4. Evidence of central nervous system involvement, to include hyperreflexia, sensory disturbances in the hand, intrinsic muscle wasting of the hands, unsteadiness during walking, nystagmus, loss of visual acuity, impaired sensation of the face, altered taste, the presence of pathological reflexes (i.e. positive Hoffman's and/or Babinski reflexes), etc.

5. Two or more positive neurologic signs consistent with nerve root compression, including any two of the following:

• Muscle weakness involving a major muscle group of the upper extremity
• Diminished upper extremity muscle stretch reflex (biceps brachii, brachioradialis, or triceps)
• Diminished or absent sensation to pinprick in any upper extremity dermatome

6. Prior surgery to the neck or thoracic spine

7. Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, or Acupuncture treatment for their neck pain in the last 12-months

8. Workers compensation or pending legal action regarding their headaches

9. Insufficient English language skills to complete all questionnaires

10. Inability to comply with treatment and follow-up schedule

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Integrated Therapy Practice PC

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Integrated Therapy Practice PC

Principal Investigators

Rob Sillevis, PT,DPT,PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

adjunct faculty University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Locations

Integrated Therapy Practice PC

Hobart, Indiana, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Facility Contacts

Rob Sillevis, PT, DPT, PhD

Role: primary

r.sillevis@comcast.net

219-945-1538

Other Identifiers

UR-0922-129

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id