Efficacy of High and Low Intensity Percutaneous Electrolysis for the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Universidad Francisco de Vitoria

Status: Completed

Conditions: Knee Pain Chronic; Muscle Pain

Treatments: Procedure: Percutaneous Electrolysis; Procedure: Dry needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04390438

50997093

Details and patient eligibility

About

Muscle pain is frequently attributed to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in which myofascial trigger points (MTrP) are a characteristic feature. Dry needling is a frequent clinical practice to manage MPS but few evidence is published about percutaneous electrolysis effects for the treatment of MPS.

This is a randomized clinical trial with 3 parallel groups: 1) High intensity-short time percutaneous electrolysis; 2) Low intensity-long time percutaneous electrolysis; 3) dry needling control group.

Full description

The current study aimed to evaluate changes in rectus femurs active trigger points and patellar tendon pain pressure thresholds and subjective anterior knee pain perception after application of two percutaneous electrolysis methods using a same charge (high intensity and low intensity) compared to a dry needling group in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS)

Fifteen patients diagnosed with unilateral PFPS were divided in two experimental groups (high intensity percutaneous electrolysis and low intensity percutaneous electrolysis) and one active control group (dry needling. The duration of the study was 7 days with only one intervention. Pain pressure thresholds were assessed using an algometer before the intervention, immediately after the intervention and after 7 days and a Visual Analogue Scale was used before the treatment and after 7 days to rate the subjective anterior knee pain perception. Also a VAS was used to rate the pain perception during the intervention

Enrollment: 15 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Athletes with knee pain
• Presence of at least one active Trigger point

Exclusion criteria

• Farmacologic treatment
• Surgery or traumas
• Skin alterations or infections
• Prior 6 weeks DN nor PT treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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15 participants in 3 patient groups

High-Intensity short time percutaneous electrolysis

Experimental group

Description:

Application of a 0,66uA galvanic current in the active TrP through a needle during 10 seconds. During the 20 seconds left necessary to blind the patient and the examiner, the needle was inside but with no electrical current

Treatment:

Procedure: Percutaneous Electrolysis

Low-Intensity long time percutaneous electrolysis

Experimental group

Description:

Application of a 0,22uA galvanic current in the active TrP through a needle during 30 seconds

Treatment:

Procedure: Percutaneous Electrolysis

Dry needling

Active Comparator group

Description:

One acupuncture needle was placed in the active TrP to produce a local twitch response during 30 seconds

Treatment:

Procedure: Dry needling