Deep Dry Needling for the Management of Post-stroke Spasticity

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke

Treatments: Other: Dry needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01950338

URJC 52/2012

Details and patient eligibility

About

Stroke is the leading cause of physical disability, particularly due to the presence of spasticity. Different needling techniques, including the use of Botulinum Toxin A are proposed for the management of spasticity. The presence of spasticity in the lower extremity implies several impairments for standing and walking inducing high disability. No study has investigated the effects of deep dry needling inserted into the targeted spastic musculature in patients with stroke. The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a single session of deep dry needling over the musculature of the leg on spasticity, widespread pressure pain sensitivity and plantar pressures (baropodometry) in individuals with chronic stroke. The investigators hypothesize that patients receiving a single session of dry needling would exhibit a greater reduction in spasticity and pressure sensitivity than those who will not receive the intervention.

Enrollment: 34 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• First-ever unilateral stroke;
• hemiplegia resulting from stroke;
• unilateral equinovarus gait with independent walk;
• able to ambulate without supporting devices.

Exclusion criteria

• recurrent stroke;
• previous treatment with nerve blocks, motor point injections with neurolytic agents for spasticity at any time, or with BTX-A in the previous 6 months
• not independent in the basic activities of daily living
• severe cognitive deficits;
• progressive or severe neurologic diseases;
• fear to needles;
• any contraindication for dry needling, e.g., anticoagulants, infections, bleeding, or psychotic.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

34 participants in 2 patient groups

Dry needling group

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group will receive a single session of DDN with disposable stainless steel needles (0.3mm x 50mm) that will be inserted into the skin over taut bands of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles.

Treatment:

Other: Dry needling

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will not receive any intervention.