Effects of DNHS Technique in the Treatment of Upper Limb Spasticity and Function in Stroke

Universidad San Jorge

Status: Completed

Conditions: Spasticity; Stroke

Treatments: Device: Sham Dry Needling; Device: DNHS ® (Dry Needling for Hypertonia and Spasticity)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02291159

USJ_DNHS_UL_01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Introduction: Stroke is a neurological deficit caused by a decrease in cerebral blood flow. The DNHS ® (Dry Needling for hypertonia and Spasticity) technique is a dry needling technique to reduce spasticity and hypertonia and improve function in patients with CNS injury. The main objective of this trial is to analyze the therapeutic effect of DNHS® technique in motor function in patients between 45 and 80 in a chronic state after a stroke. Methods: Double-blinded randomized clinical trial. There will be an intervention group (DNHS® technique) and a sham control group. The intervention will be 2 sessions, one per week, in biceps brachii, brachialis, flexor digitorum superficialis nad profundus, adductor pollicis and first dorsal interossei. The Fugl Meyer Assessment Scale, Modified Ashworth Scale and Stroke Impact Scale will be used as outcome measures. The data will be expressed as mean ± (Standard Deviation). The standardized difference or effect size (ES, 90% confidence limit) in the selected variables will be calculated.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• people aged 40-85 years with hemiplegia resulting from stroke of more than 6 months evolution (chronic stroke)
• ability to follow instructions and reply to assessment questonnaires

Exclusion criteria

• recurrent stroke episodes
• other concomitant neurodegenerative conditions
• fear to needles
• participation in a parallel study
• any absolute contraindication for deep dry needling

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention-DNHS technique

Experimental group

Description:

Dry needling of Myofascial Trigger Points

Treatment:

Device: DNHS ® (Dry Needling for Hypertonia and Spasticity)

Control-Sham Dry Needling

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Sham Dry Needling of Myofascial Trigger Points

Treatment:

Device: Sham Dry Needling