Efficacy of Electrical Dry Needling in Pain, Sensitivity, Functionality and Quality of Life of Patients With Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT04804228

Last Updated: 2021-12-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-05-17

Study Completion Date

2021-11-20

Brief Summary

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The main objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of electrical dry needling versus ischemic compression, analytical stretching and postural habits educational dossier in active myofascial trigger points in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Detailed Description

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A double-blind clinical trial will be developed in a sample of 80 subjects with chronic low back pain. Patients in the experimental group will receive electrical dry needling at the active myofascial trigger points (PGM) of the quadratus lumbar, multifidus, and iliocostal muscles (following the PGM maps described by Travell and Simons). The technique will be performed using needle electrodes, the generated current will be produced by a TENS device with a frequency of 2 Hz and a pulse width of 250 μs, during 30 min of application. The therapeutic intervention will be 1 weekly session for a total of 6 weeks.

The control group will perform an ischemic compression technique in active PGM with a time between 20 seconds and 1 minute until pain inhibition is achieved, and finally, analytical stretching will be carried out on the quadratus lumbar, multifidus and iliocostal muscles. The treatment will consist of 1 weekly session for 6 weeks, in addition they will be provided with a training dossier on postural education in their activities of daily life.

A baseline assessment of the primary and secondary outcome measures will be carried out before randomization of the participants to the different groups, an immediate post-treatment assessment (1 day after the last intervention) and an assessment two month after the end of the intervention ( short-term follow-up).

The objectives of this study are to compare the repercussions of dry electropuncture versus ischemic compression in active PGM plus stretching in terms of pain, functionality, mobility of the spine, and quality of life in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain; and analyze the impact on active myofascial trigger points in terms of pressure tolerance threshold.

Conditions

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Chronic Low-back Pain

Keywords

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Electrical dry needling low back pain Randomized clinical trial ischemic compression analytical stretch

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Electrical dry needling

The experimental group consisting of 40 subjects will perform electrostimulation on the active myofascial trigger points of the following muscles: quadratus lumbar, multifidus and iliocostalis, following the PGM maps described by Travell and Simons. The electrostimulation of the PGM will be carried out using needle electrodes, the generated current will be produced by a TENS device with a frequency of 2 Hz and a pulse width of 250 μs, the application will be approximately 30 min. The therapeutic intervention will be 1 session per week for a total of 6 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Ischemic compression, analytical stretching and postural habits educational dossier

Intervention Type OTHER

The control group G2, formed by 40 subjects, will perform an ischemic compression technique in active PGM with a time between 20 seconds and 1 minute until pain inhibition is achieved, and finally, analytical stretching will be carried out on the quadratus lumbar, multifidus and iliocostal muscles, 1 weekly session for 6 weeks, in addition to providing them with a training dossier on postural education in their activities of daily life.

Ischemic compression, analytical stretching and postural habits educational dossier

The control group consisting of 40 subjects will undergo an ischemic compression technique in active PGM with a time between 20 seconds and 1 minute until pain inhibition is achieved, and finally, analytical stretching will be carried out on the quadratus lumbar, multifid and iliocostal, 1 weekly session for 6 weeks providing a training dossier of postural education in their activities of daily life.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Electrical dry needling

Intervention Type OTHER

The experimental group consisting of 40 subjects will perform electrostimulation on the active myofascial trigger points of the following muscles: quadratus lumbar, multifidus and iliocostalis. The electrostimulation of the PGM will be carried out using needle electrodes, the generated current will be produced by a TENS device with a frequency of 2 Hz and a pulse width of 250 μs, the application will be approximately 30 min. The therapeutic intervention will be 1 session per week for a total of 6 weeks.

Interventions

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Electrical dry needling

The experimental group consisting of 40 subjects will perform electrostimulation on the active myofascial trigger points of the following muscles: quadratus lumbar, multifidus and iliocostalis. The electrostimulation of the PGM will be carried out using needle electrodes, the generated current will be produced by a TENS device with a frequency of 2 Hz and a pulse width of 250 μs, the application will be approximately 30 min. The therapeutic intervention will be 1 session per week for a total of 6 weeks.

Intervention Type OTHER

Ischemic compression, analytical stretching and postural habits educational dossier

The control group G2, formed by 40 subjects, will perform an ischemic compression technique in active PGM with a time between 20 seconds and 1 minute until pain inhibition is achieved, and finally, analytical stretching will be carried out on the quadratus lumbar, multifidus and iliocostal muscles, 1 weekly session for 6 weeks, in addition to providing them with a training dossier on postural education in their activities of daily life.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Low back pain ≥ 3 months.
* Age between 30 and 67 years old.
* Not being receiving physical therapy.

Exclusion Criteria

* Presence of lumbar stenosis.
* Diagnosis of spondylolisthesis.
* Diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
* Treatment with corticosteroids or oral medication in recent weeks.
* History of spine surgery.
* Contraindication of analgesic electrical therapy.
* Have previously received a treatment of electrical analgesia or exercise.
* Central or peripheral nervous system disease.
Minimum Eligible Age

30 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

67 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Universidad de Almeria

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Almeria University

Locations

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Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez

Almería, , Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

References

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Chiarotto A, Clijsen R, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Barbero M. Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Spinal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016 Feb;97(2):316-37. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.09.021. Epub 2015 Oct 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26475933 (View on PubMed)

Travell JG, Simons DG, Simons LS. Dolor y disfunción miofascial. El manual de los puntos gatillo. Volumen I. Mitad superior del cuerpo. Madrid: Ed Panamericana. 2007.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Travell JG, Simons DG. Dolor y disfunción miofascial. El manual de los puntos gatillo. Volumen II. Extremidades inferiores. Madrid: Ed Panamericana. 2007.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Dunning J, Butts R, Young I, Mourad F, Galante V, Bliton P, Tanner M, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C. Periosteal Electrical Dry Needling as an Adjunct to Exercise and Manual Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin J Pain. 2018 Dec;34(12):1149-1158. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000634.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29864043 (View on PubMed)

Dunning J, Butts R, Henry N, Mourad F, Brannon A, Rodriguez H, Young I, Arias-Buria JL, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C. Electrical dry needling as an adjunct to exercise, manual therapy and ultrasound for plantar fasciitis: A multi-center randomized clinical trial. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 31;13(10):e0205405. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205405. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30379937 (View on PubMed)

Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Nijs J. Trigger point dry needling for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: current perspectives within a pain neuroscience paradigm. J Pain Res. 2019 Jun 18;12:1899-1911. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S154728. eCollection 2019.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31354339 (View on PubMed)

Rahou-El-Bachiri Y, Navarro-Santana MJ, Gomez-Chiguano GF, Cleland JA, Lopez-de-Uralde-Villanueva I, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Ortega-Santiago R, Plaza-Manzano G. Effects of Trigger Point Dry Needling for the Management of Knee Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2020 Jun 29;9(7):2044. doi: 10.3390/jcm9072044.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32610659 (View on PubMed)

Dunning J, Butts R, Zacharko N, Fandry K, Young I, Wheeler K, Day J, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C. Spinal manipulation and perineural electrical dry needling in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Spine J. 2021 Feb;21(2):284-295. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.10.008. Epub 2020 Oct 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33065273 (View on PubMed)

Kumnerddee W, Pattapong N. Efficacy of electro-acupuncture in chronic plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Chin Med. 2012;40(6):1167-76. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X12500863.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23227789 (View on PubMed)

Myburgh C, Larsen AH, Hartvigsen J. A systematic, critical review of manual palpation for identifying myofascial trigger points: evidence and clinical significance. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Jun;89(6):1169-76. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.12.033.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18503816 (View on PubMed)

Lara-Palomo IC, Antequera-Soler E, Fernandez-Sanchez M, Castro-Sanchez AM, Garcia-Lopez H. Electrical dry needling versus a non-invasive multicomponent intervention in the treatment of myofascial trigger points in patients with chronic low back pain: A randomised clinical trial. Clin Rehabil. 2024 Mar;38(3):347-360. doi: 10.1177/02692155231201589. Epub 2023 Sep 13.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37700695 (View on PubMed)

Lara-Palomo IC, Gil-Martinez E, Antequera-Soler E, Castro-Sanchez AM, Fernandez-Sanchez M, Garcia-Lopez H. Electrical dry needling versus conventional physiotherapy in the treatment of active and latent myofascial trigger points in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Trials. 2022 Mar 28;23(1):238. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06179-y.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35346331 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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EFM 87/2020

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id