The purpose of this research is to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) with periosteal electric dry needling (PEDN). It is also to determine the optimal "maintenance" regiment (i.e. maintenance treatments, one maintenance treatment every other month, or one maintenance treatment per month) required to maintain improvements in pain and function following PEDN. Physical therapists commonly use PEDN to treat knee OA, and previous studies suggest that this treatment is useful for reducing pain and improving function in patients with osteoarthritis. However, an appropriate maintenance treatment strategy to maintain these outcomes is presently unknown.
Patients with knee osteoarthritis will be randomized to receive periosteal electrical dry needling 1-2 treatments per week for 6 weeks (up to 10 sessions total) followed by either: 1. no maintenance treatments, 2. one maintenance treatment every other month or 3. one maintenance treatment per month.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
586
periosteal electrical dry needling
periosteal electrical dry needling with maintenance treatments every other month
periosteal electrical dry needling with monthly maintenance treatments
Team Rehabilitation
Chamblee, Georgia, United States
Change in WOMAC Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Total Score)
24 questions each worth 0-4 points with maximum score of 96 points possible. The greater the score, the worse the symptoms of knee OA
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks
Change in WOMAC Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Pain)
5 questions each worth 0-4 points with maximum score of 20 points possible. The greater the score, the worse the pain.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks
Change in WOMAC Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Stiffness)
2 questions each worth 0-4 points with maximum score of 8 points possible. The greater the score, the worse the stiffness.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks
Change in WOMAC Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Physical Function)
17 questions each worth 0-4 points with maximum score of 68 points possible. The greater the score, the worse the physical function.
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks
Change in knee pain
Average Numeric Pain Rating Score. Higher score means greater pain
Time frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks
Change in GROC (Global Rating of Change score)
GROC (ranges from -7 to +7). Global Rating of Change score
Time frame: 6 weeks, 14 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks
Change in Medication Intake (Frequency of medication intake during last time period)
Frequency of medication intake during last time period
Time frame: baseline, 30 weeks
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