Efficacy of High and Low Intensity Percutaneous Electrolysis for the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome

NCT ID: NCT04390438

Last Updated: 2020-05-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 15 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-02-17
• Study Completion Date: 2020-04-27

Brief Summary

Muscle pain is frequently attributed to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in which myofascial trigger points (MTrP) are a characteristic feature. Dry needling is a frequent clinical practice to manage MPS but few evidence is published about percutaneous electrolysis effects for the treatment of MPS.

This is a randomized clinical trial with 3 parallel groups: 1) High intensity-short time percutaneous electrolysis; 2) Low intensity-long time percutaneous electrolysis; 3) dry needling control group.

Detailed Description

The current study aimed to evaluate changes in rectus femurs active trigger points and patellar tendon pain pressure thresholds and subjective anterior knee pain perception after application of two percutaneous electrolysis methods using a same charge (high intensity and low intensity) compared to a dry needling group in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)

Fifteen patients diagnosed with unilateral PFPS were divided in two experimental groups (high intensity percutaneous electrolysis and low intensity percutaneous electrolysis) and one active control group (dry needling. The duration of the study was 7 days with only one intervention. Pain pressure thresholds were assessed using an algometer before the intervention, immediately after the intervention and after 7 days and a Visual Analogue Scale was used before the treatment and after 7 days to rate the subjective anterior knee pain perception. Also a VAS was used to rate the pain perception during the intervention

Conditions

Knee Pain Chronic; Muscle Pain

Study Design

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

Study Groups

High-Intensity short time percutaneous electrolysis

Application of a 0,66uA galvanic current in the active TrP through a needle during 10 seconds. During the 20 seconds left necessary to blind the patient and the examiner, the needle was inside but with no electrical current

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Percutaneous Electrolysis

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Needle emplacement with a galvanic electrical current

Low-Intensity long time percutaneous electrolysis

Application of a 0,22uA galvanic current in the active TrP through a needle during 30 seconds

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Percutaneous Electrolysis

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Needle emplacement with a galvanic electrical current

Dry needling

One acupuncture needle was placed in the active TrP to produce a local twitch response during 30 seconds

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Dry needling

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Needle emplacement without electrical current nor substance

Interventions

Percutaneous Electrolysis

Needle emplacement with a galvanic electrical current

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Dry needling

Needle emplacement without electrical current nor substance

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Athletes with knee pain
• Presence of at least one active Trigger point

Exclusion Criteria

• Farmacologic treatment
• Surgery or traumas
• Skin alterations or infections
• Prior 6 weeks DN nor PT treatment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Universidad Francisco de Vitoria

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Juan Antonio Valera-Calero, PT, Msc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Camilo Jose Cela University

Alberto Sanchez-Mayoral-Martín, PT

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Free professional practice

Locations

Camilo Jose Cela University

Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain

Countries

Spain

Other Identifiers

50997093

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id