INTRODUCTION: Whiplash is an injury produced by an acceleration-deceleration mechanism that transmits energy to the cervical spine. According to the bibliography, the conservative treatment (motor control exercises and manual therapy) has shown benefits in approaching this lesion, but its efficacy is limited. Dry needling has already shown its usefulness in different musculoskeletal pathologies, however, its efficacy is unknown when it is included in conservative treatment. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the effects of the incorporation of dry needling in the conventional treatment with manual therapy and motor control exercises, compared to the conventional non-invasive treatment in patients with acute or subacute whiplash. HYPOTHESIS: The inclusion of dry needling in conventional non-invasive treatment is more effective than conventional non-invasive treatment in patients with acute or subacute whiplash. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial will be conducted in which the subjects of study will be assigned to two groups, a control group (conventional treatment) and an experimental group (conventional treatment and dry needling).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
30
Neck Motor Control
Massage + Joint Mobilizations
Dry Needling in Neck Muscles
Universidad de Alcalá
Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Neck Disability Index. Changes from Baseline
0-100% (0% = No Disability; 100% = Disability (highest level of disability)
Time frame: 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
Pressure pain thresholds. Changes from Baseline
The minimum force applied which induces pain. Measured kg/cm2
Time frame: 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
Cervical Range of Movement. Changes from Baseline
Amount of cervical movement using a goniometer
Time frame: 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
Kinesophobia. Changes from Baseline
Fear of movement measured by the TAMPA scale
Time frame: 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
Cervical Motor Control. Changes from Baseline
measure of cervical joint position sense using a laser
Time frame: 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
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