Dry Needling Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis

NCT ID: NCT03639441

Last Updated: 2019-08-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 33 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-10-02
• Study Completion Date: 2019-05-21

Brief Summary

The population affected by degenerative knee arthritis is very large. The investigator performed dry needle (DN) treatments with acupuncture needles. This experiment used a randomized single-blind experiment to assess the immediate, short-term and long-term effects of dry needle therapy on patellar pain in patients with degenerative arthritis.

Detailed Description

The population affected by degenerative knee arthritis is very large. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the prevalence of osteoarthritis of the knee in Taiwan is about 3.5 million people, accounting for about 15% of the total population. Its effects are a heavy burden on socio-economic costs, and in addition to being included in medical expenses, serious cases can lead to incapacity to work; therefore, the disease is an important factor in causing disability and disability First, it is worth our attention.

The investigator performed dry needle (DN) treatments with acupuncture needles. Stimulating the effected muscle, the investigator move the needle forward and backward several times. Muscle twitch may occur by our procedure. The pain caused by myofascial trigger points can be decreased effective simultaneously. So far, there is no solid research or clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment yet.

For the reasons of the degenerative arthritis pain, the clinical observation is not entirely due to the cause of joint deformity or cartilage damage, soft tissue lesions around the knee is also a common source of pain, the use of dry needle for the diagnosis of soft tissue injury , And observed its efficacy, which is also the core of this study.

This experiment used a randomized single-blind experiment to assess the immediate, short-term and long-term effects of dry needle therapy on patellar pain in patients with degenerative arthritis. The assessment tools included the VAS, WOMAC , Lequesnes index, Gait speed test and the Muscle Tension Changes in the Lower Extremities.

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Dry needling

In this arm, the subjects will receive the intervention of DN on Day1, Day2 and Day4, in total 3 treatments and will be arrange to take efficacy two assessment on Day8 and Day15, separately.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

dry needling

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Dry needling, also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling, is an well-proved technique in alternative medicine similar to acupuncture. It involves the use of either solid filiform needles or hollow-core hypodermic needles for therapy of muscle pain, including pain related to myofascial pain syndrome. Dry needling is sometimes also known as intramuscular stimulation (IMS).

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

In this arm, the subjects will receive the intervention of Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation on Day1, Day2 and Day4, in total 3 treatments and will be arrange to take efficacy two assessment on Day8 and Day15, separately.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS or TNS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes.

TENS, by definition, covers the complete range of transcutaneously applied currents used for nerve excitation although the term is often used with a more restrictive intent, namely to describe the kind of pulses produced by portable stimulators used to treat pain. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes. A typical battery operated TENS unit is able to modulate pulse width, frequency and intensity. Generally TENS is applied at high frequency (>50 Hz) with an intensity below motor contraction (sensory intensity) or low frequency (<10 Hz) with an intensity that produces motor contraction.

Interventions

dry needling

Dry needling, also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling, is an well-proved technique in alternative medicine similar to acupuncture. It involves the use of either solid filiform needles or hollow-core hypodermic needles for therapy of muscle pain, including pain related to myofascial pain syndrome. Dry needling is sometimes also known as intramuscular stimulation (IMS).

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS or TNS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes.

TENS, by definition, covers the complete range of transcutaneously applied currents used for nerve excitation although the term is often used with a more restrictive intent, namely to describe the kind of pulses produced by portable stimulators used to treat pain. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes. A typical battery operated TENS unit is able to modulate pulse width, frequency and intensity. Generally TENS is applied at high frequency (>50 Hz) with an intensity below motor contraction (sensory intensity) or low frequency (<10 Hz) with an intensity that produces motor contraction.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Volunteers who are older than 50 years old and can cooperate with the experiment

2. Established diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral degenerative knee arthritis.

3. There is a local trigger point around the unilateral or bilateral knee joint which on the muscle of Vastus lateralis, Vastus medialis, Gastrocnemius, or Tibialis anterior.

Exclusion Criteria

1. There are contraindications to general treatment, such as serious medical problems, recent serious trauma, or pregnant women.

2. There has been a history of drug abuse (including excess alcohol) that affects pain assessors.

3. Have received knee surgery.

4. People with central or peripheral nerve disease.

5. Cognitive impairment, unable to cooperate with the experimenter.

6. Patients currently receiving other treatments for knee osteoarthritis

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

China Medical University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Li-Wei Chou

Minister of Rehabilitation

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

China Medical University Hospital

Taichung, , Taiwan

Countries

Taiwan

Other Identifiers

CMUH107-REC2-100

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id