Effects of dry needling on knee pain management
The Effects of Dry Needling on Patients With Knee Pain
This study is testing if dry needling can help people with knee pain feel better and improve their movement compared to standard physical therapy or fake treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ohio State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Columbus, Ohio) |
| Trial ID | NCT02890485 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the effectiveness of dry needling as a treatment for patients suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either dry needling to the gluteal or quadriceps muscles, sham treatments, or standard physical therapy alone. The study will measure outcomes such as pain levels, muscle strength, and functional performance through self-reported questionnaires and objective clinical assessments. The goal is to determine if dry needling can enhance recovery and improve function in individuals with knee pain.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 18-40 who have been referred for physical therapy and have experienced anterior knee pain for at least three months.
Not a fit: Patients with bilateral knee pain, recent treatments for knee pain, or specific contraindications to dry needling may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new, effective treatment option for patients with knee pain, potentially improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: While dry needling has been used in various contexts, this specific application for patellofemoral pain syndrome is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-40 years-of-age * Referred for physical therapy * Presence of anterior knee pain around the patella during ascending/descending stairs, squatting, and/or running for at least 3 months. Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to provide consent * Bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome * Received previous dry needling treatments * Pregnancy * History of pain less than 3 months * Imaging demonstrating the presence of confounding internal abnormality (e.g. chondral defects, ligamentous injury, and/or meniscal pathology), * Patellar instability * Presence of a neurological condition that would affect movement * Contraindications to dry needling techniques (e.g. a history of bleeding disorders, phobia of needles, an active cancer diagnosis, and presence of other systemic illness such as fever or signs of infection) * Actively receiving treatment for knee pain outside of the current study protocol while enrolled in the study; * received active and supervised PT treatment for knee pain within the last 4 weeks; * history of knee surgery less than 6 months ago * history of surgical correction of the patellofemoral complex (e.g. MPFL reconstruction, patellar realignment surgery, etc)
Where this trial is running
Columbus, Ohio
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center — Columbus, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Matthew S Briggs, DPT, PhD — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Kat Rethman, DPT
- Email: katherine.rethman@osumc.edu
- Phone: 614-293-2385
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.