Biomarkers of Pain and Stress Perception and Dry Needling Technique Application

University of Alcala36 enrolled

Overview

The use of the dry needling technique has become widespread in recent years for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Although dry needling has been shown to be effective in the treatment of shoulder pain, elbow pain, headache, etc., we do not yet have a clear understanding of the mechanisms of action that justify its beneficial effects. In this study, we propose to analyse the biochemical markers of pain generated by the application of a dry needling technique on the lumbar musculature in patients with mechanical lumbar pain of non-specific origin. The aim of this study will be to evaluate the effects of dry needling technique on the plasmatic concentration of biochemical markers.Furthermore, the test subjects will be randomly distributed into two groups. An experimental group where the subjects will receive a real dry needling technique. Another group will be treated with a sham technique.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Interventions

Sham dry needling lumbar iliocostalis muscleOTHER

Subjects will be treated with dry needling to the quadratus lumborum muscle. To do this, the subject will be lying laterally on the contralateral side and with the hip in an adducted position. The placebo needle will move 10 times imitating the real procedure. The head will rest comfortably on a pillow

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Mechanical lumbar pain of more than three months of evolution. Exclusion Criteria: * Medical diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation or protrusion. * Low back and leg pain. * Pregnancy. * Fibromyalgia. * Fear of needles. * Medication with anticoagulants

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Extracting Blood Samples and Obtaining Serum/Plasma

Serum samples will be extracted by venipuncture at the cubital fossa, according to a standardized protocol. Blood will be collected in a tube for serum (Vacutainer SST II Advance, model 367953) and a tube for plasma (Vacutainer PST II Advance, model 367374) separation. Substances related to antinociception will be determined later: Dopamine, adrenaline, norepinephrine, cortisol.

Time frame: Change from Baseline concentration at 2 hours