Clinical trial NCT02646579: Effects of Dry Needling Using Spinal and Peripheral Sites Versus Peripheral Sites Only
Official title: Effects of Dry Needling Using Spinal and Peripheral Sites Versus Peripheral Sites Only Among Individuals With Chronic Lower Extremity Conditions
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Plantar Fasciitis
Achilles Tendinitis
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Keywords: Orthopedics
Lead sponsor: Emory University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2016-01-05
Enrollment: 34
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to determine if dry needling both low back and extremity areas is more effective for reducing pain and improving strength, balance and functional performance among patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions compared to dry needling of extremity areas only.

Detailed description: This study will determine if spinal and peripheral dry needling sites results in decreased pain, increased muscle strength, increased proprioception and increased functional performance among individuals with chronic musculoskeletal conditions of the lower extremities, such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and patellofemoral pain syndrome. Specific aims are to determine if individuals with chronic musculoskeletal conditions of the lower extremities receiving dry needling to both spinal and peripheral sites exhibit differences in pain, muscle strength, proprioception, and unilateral hop test scores compared to individuals with chronic musculoskeletal conditions of the lower extremities receiving dry needling to peripheral sites only.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Unilateral chronic lower extremity musculoskeletal condition
* Ability to perform a unilateral one-quarter squat on involved side without pain
* Asymptomatic during walking

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of systemic neurological or arthritic condition
* History of bony or peripheral nerve trauma or surgery lower extremities
* No contraindications to dry needling
* Not currently receiving treatment for the chronic lower extremity musculoskeletal condition

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Pain Level assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
timeFrame: Baseline, Visit 2 (Up to 7 days)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Muscle Strength of Hip Abductors assessed using a dynamometer
timeFrame: Baseline, Visit 2 (Up to 7 days)
measure: Change in Muscle Strength of Knee Extensors/Flexors assessed using a dynamometer
timeFrame: Baseline, Visit 2 (Up to 7 days)
measure: Change in Muscle Strength of Ankle Dorsiflexors/Platarflexors assessed using a dynamometer
timeFrame: Baseline, Visit 2 (Up to 7 days)
measure: Change in Unilateral Hop Distance
timeFrame: Baseline, Visit 2 (Up to 7 days)
measure: Change in Single-limb Standing Balance Test Time
timeFrame: Baseline, Visit 2 (Up to 7 days)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Atlanta
country: United States
facility: The Emory Clinic
state: Georgia
Study officials:
affiliation: Emory University
name: Marie Johanson, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: