Efficacy of Electrical Dry Needling in Pain, Sensitivity, Functionality and Quality of Life of Patients With Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain
Condition: Chronic Low-back Pain
MeSH terms: Back Pain; Low Back Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      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: 
      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.
    

Intervention name(s): Electrical dry needling; Ischemic compression, analytical stretching and postural habits educational dossier
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): 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.; 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.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Electrical dry needling; low back pain; Randomized clinical trial; ischemic compression; analytical stretch