Dry needling for chronic low back pain relief
Effectiveness of Dry Needling on Pain, Functional Disability, Postural Control and Pain Pressure Threshold in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial
NA · Iran University of Medical Sciences · NCT05100381
This study is testing if adding dry needling to regular physical therapy can help young adults with chronic low back pain feel better and improve their daily activities.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Iran University of Medical Sciences (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Tehran, Tehran Province) |
| Trial ID | NCT05100381 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effectiveness of dry needling combined with routine physical therapy in alleviating pain, functional disability, postural control, and pain pressure threshold in patients suffering from chronic nonspecific low back pain. Participants aged 18 to 45 with moderate pain will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving dry needling or a control group receiving sham dry needling. The primary outcomes measured will be pain intensity and functional disability, while secondary outcomes will include postural control and pain pressure threshold, assessed before and one week after the intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 18 to 45 with moderate chronic nonspecific low back pain and trigger points in the lumbar multifidus muscle.
Not a fit: Patients with specific low back pain conditions, severe malalignments, or systemic diseases may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce pain and improve functional abilities in patients with chronic low back pain.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown the effectiveness of dry needling for pain and functional disability, but its impact on postural control remains less explored.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients age between 18 to 45 years. * Moderate pain at rest (between 30 and 60 in NPRS). * Patients with trigger points in the lumbar multifidus muscle. * Patients have the ability to speak and read Persian. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently taking anticoagulant medications * Specific low back pain (Neurogenic low back pain, Spinal stenosis, cauda equina syndrome, spondylolisthesis, and Presence of any signs or symptoms of non-musculoskeletal pathology e.g. cancer, infection and fracture in low back and lower extremities based on paraclinical findings) * Prior surgery to the lumbosacral spine * Inability to obtain prone lying * Severe malalignments in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or pelvic region and the lower limbs * History of uncorrected vision impairment, vestibular, hearing or cognitive impairments * Leg length discrepancy which disturbs balance * Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative diseases and other rheumatoid diseases * Needle phobia * Sacroiliac pain as identified with six clinical tests: compression, distraction, sacral thrust, thigh thrust, Gaenslen's and FABER's
Where this trial is running
Tehran, Tehran Province
- Physical therapy clinic at rehabilitation center of Iran university of medical sciences — Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Bahareh Firouzeh, Bachelor
- Email: baharefirouze74@gmail.com
- Phone: +98-9908080623
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Low Back Pain, dry needling, functional disability, postural control, pain pressure threshold