Trigger Point Dry Needling vs Trigger Point Dry Needling With Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation

William Beaumont Army Medical Center30 enrolled

Overview

trigger point dry needling with intramuscular electrical stimulation vs trigger point dry needling

The purpose of this study is to evaluate if trigger point dry needling with intramuscular electrical stimulation is more effective in decreasing pain and disability in individuals with sub-acute and chronic low back pain (LBP) than with trigger point dry needling alone. The investigators are using a within subjects randomized crossover study that will recruit 30 active duty military personnel or beneficiaries from William Beaumont Army Medical Center and all associated clinics. The investigators hypothesize that individuals with LBP will exhibit larger improvements in pain and disability when receiving trigger point dry needling with intramuscular electrical stimulation than when receiving trigger point dry needling alone.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Sub-acute and Chronic Low Back Pain

Interventions

trigger point dry needlingDEVICE

placement of the dry needle into the muscle tissue to elicit a local twitch response. Only MYOTECH dry needles and ESTIM II dual channel stimulator will be used in this study. However we are not studying the equipment.

Electrical StimulationDEVICE

uses the dry needles as nodes to stimulate muscular contraction. Only MYOTECH dry needles and ESTIM II dual channel stimulator will be used in this study. However we are not studying the equipment.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Currently experience low back pain for greater than 4 weeks (Low back pain defined as pain below the T12th vertebrae with or without radiation) Military or DOD Beneficiary (any branch; 18-65 years of age) Exclusion Criteria: * Structural Deformity (ankylosing Spondylitis, Scoliosis) * Has any other Orthopedic condition that may keep subject from performing Low - Back Exercises * Tumors * Spinal infection or local infection * Pregnancy-All female subjects will be given either a blood serum or urine pregnancy test. * Spinal cord compression or Cauda Equina Syndrome * Subject with the inability to keep appointments * Has History of prior surgery * Has received Dry Needling or Acupuncture in the last 6 months * History of bleeding disorders * High anti-coagulant use * History of immune suppression

Locations (1)

William BAMC

El Paso, Texas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Numeric Pain Rating Scale to assess change

an 11 point scale on which the participant will grade their pain

Time frame: Baseline and before and after each treatment session, duration per subject is approximately 3 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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