ClinicalTrials.Veeva

Menu

Dry Needling vs. Stretching for Non-Specific Low Back Pain

R

Riphah International University

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Non Specific Low Back Pain

Treatments

Other: Passive Hamstring (HM) stretching
Device: Hot pack
Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Other: Dry needling
Other: Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAG)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT06756776
Misbah Sohail

Details and patient eligibility

About

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the common health issues and a leading cause of reduced mobility. It is characterized by pain during functional activities and is often associated with hamstring tightness. CLBP affects individuals across all age groups. Various methods are used to address low back pain, including manual therapy. Manual therapy techniques include Maitland mobilizations, Kaltenborn mobilizations, Mulligan techniques, stretching, and others.

Several stretching techniques have been proposed, including static stretching, dynamic stretching, ballistic stretching, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). Among these, static and dynamic stretching are the most commonly used methods. Static stretching is considered one of the safest and easiest techniques, which can be performed passively or actively. Literature supports that stretching improves muscle flexibility, provides relaxation, reduces pain, and increases the range of motion (ROM).

Dry needling is another physical intervention technique that has been utilized for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Current literature supports the use of dry needling for trigger points in hamstring muscles, which is a contributing factor to low back pain.

The objective of this study is to compare the effects of dry needling and stretching combined with sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs) on pain, ROM, muscle length, and disability in patients with non-specific low back pain.

A randomized clinical trial will be conducted at Hijaz Hospital using convenience sampling to recruit participants. Patients will be allocated into two groups (Group A and Group B) through simple random sampling using sealed opaque envelopes. After conventional treatment, Group A will receive SNAGs and stretching, while Group B will receive SNAGs and dry needling.

Outcome measures will include the goniometer for ROM, the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (MODI) for disability, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain, and the Finger-to-Floor Distance Test for hamstring flexibility. These measures will be assessed at baseline, at the 2nd week, and after 4 weeks. Data will be analyzed using SPSS software (version 21).

The normality of the data will be assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Based on the results, parametric or non-parametric tests will be used for within-group and between-group comparisons. SNAGs and dry needling will be evaluated for their effectiveness in treating non-specific low back pain.

Enrollment

44 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

20 to 40 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • minimum 3 months chronicity of low back pain
  • with tight hamstrings and positive passive knee extension test (12)

Exclusion criteria

  • Chronic systemic bony and soft tissue diseases
  • Recent history of trauma
  • Degenerative joint diseases
  • Psychiatrist diseases

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Single Blind

44 participants in 2 patient groups

Group A
Experimental group
Description:
Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAGs) on the lumbar spine and stretching of the hamstring muscles will be administered to Group A.
Treatment:
Other: Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAG)
Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Device: Hot pack
Other: Passive Hamstring (HM) stretching
Group B
Active Comparator group
Description:
Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAGs) on the lumbar spine and dry needling on the hamstring muscles will be administered to Group B.
Treatment:
Other: Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAG)
Device: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Other: Dry needling
Device: Hot pack

Trial contacts and locations

1

Loading...

Central trial contact

Misbah Sohail, DPT; Danish Hassan, PhD*

Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

Clinical trials

Find clinical trialsTrials by location
© Copyright 2025 Veeva Systems