Dry Needling and Muscle Stiffness

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of intramuscular dry needling (IMDN) on muscle stiffness and pain. Research has suggested that IMDN can reduce muscle stiffness in needled areas. As well, IMDN may reduce mechanical pain sensitivity experienced by individuals. IMDN will be performed at several anatomical locations. Muscle stiffness will be measured with a handheld probe, which measures contact force and displacement of soft tissue. Pressure-pain thresholds (PPT) will be discovered at each region of interest. Stiffness and pressure-pain thresholds will be collected before and after IMDN. The data collected from this research is important to understand the mechanism of IMDN and its relationship to pain.

Official Title
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Effect of Intramuscular Dry Needling on Soft Tissue Stiffness and Pressure-pain Thresholds

Conditions
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Muscle Tightness

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Intramuscular Dry Needling


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: over the age of 18 pain-free in your lower back and lower legs Exclusion Criteria: unable to communicate in English surgery of any kind in the lumbar spine or lower legs. participants with a skin condition that does not allow for hypoallergenic tape to be attached to their skin. have a BMI>25 unable to hold your breath for 20 seconds contraindications to dry needling, i.e. pregnancy; fever or infection that is in your bloodstream; unstable compromised immune system; unstable bleeding disorders; presence at the site of DN of infection, an open wound , a burn, cellulitis, or an undiagnosed lump; post- mastectomy/lymph node removal in the affected limb; post-major surgery (3-6 month time period); presence of metal or plastic implant; absent sensation in area of planned DN; post-bacterial endocarditis or heart valve conditions/replacement without medical clearance for DN from medical doctor.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Repeated measures design with pre-post measures
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intramuscular Dry Needling<br>IMDN will be performed at the sacral multifidus and fibularis longus muscles. | Procedure: Intramuscular Dry Needling<br>* The insertion of thin monofilament needles (without injectate) into a tight band of muscle. The needles will be inserted into the muscle for  10 seconds.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Effective stiffness of soft tissue | Force-displacement data is collected while deforming the soft tissue at the skin surface with a non-invasive handheld probe. The effective stiffness is a summary of the deformation behavior of the soft tissue. It is estimated using the force-displacement data as an input to the incompressible isotropic hyperelastic Ogden model. A higher value indicates that the soft tissue is stiffer than a lower value. | Within 10 minutes of intervention | 
| Pressure-pain threshold | The measured pressure at the moment the perception of pressure turns into pain | Within 10 minutes of intervention |