The goal of this observational study is to investigate the efficacy of percutaneous electrolysis compared with dry needling on pain sensations and multifidus muscle properties in subjects with low back pain. The main questions it aims to answer are: The high-intensity and low-intensity percutaneous electrolysis may induce pressure pain threshold (PPT) changes in myofascial trigger points in the low back during the intervention compared with dry needling. Percutaneous electrolysis interventions may reduce stiffness in the multifidus muscle during the intervention compared with dry needling.
A parallel-group, controlled, triple-blinded, randomized pilot clinical trial comparing the effects of a single session of high-intensity percutaneous electrolysis (HIPE), low-intensity percutaneous electrolysis (LIPE), and dry needling (DN) applied to the multifidus muscle most active MTrP in subjects with low back pain. This clinical trial will follow the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials for pragmatic clinical trials. This procedure consists of three trials, i.e., (1, HIPE) 660 uA x 30"; (2, LIPE) 220uA x 30"; and (3, DN) with 1 twitch response, and the needle inserted 30".
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
50
EPTE device (Ionclinics, Valencia, Spain)
A dry needle with size 0.30 × 40 (Agupunt, Barcelona, Spain)
Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry
Madrid, Spain
Pain changes in pain intensity before and after the intervention
A 10-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS; 0: no pain, 10: maximum pain) will be used to assess the patient's current level of shoulder pain, and the worst and lowest level of pain experienced in the preceding week in the shoulder area.
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after, and 24 after of intervention
Pressure Pain Threshold
Somedic Algometer type 2 was used to measure PPT. The diameter of the contact tip was 10 mm and covered with 2 mm thick rubber. The pressure on point and its rate was standardized (30 kPa s-1 ). The value of the pain threshold equals the value of the pressure at which the examined person reported that the pressure exerted on a certain point causes pain.
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after, and 24 after of intervention
Muscle stiffness
An ultrasound machine with shear-wave elastography Canon Aplio A device, using a linear transducer PLT-1005-BT (Canon Medical Corp, 1385 Shimoishigami, Otawara, Tochigi 324-8550, Japan). The console settings will also be standard for all the acquisitions (Frequency=11 MHz, Gain=78 dB, Dynamic Range=75, and Depth=4.5 cm).
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after, and 24 after of intervention
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