Electrical Dry Needling Versus Iontophoresis in Treating Chronic Unilateral Knee Osteoarthritis

Horus University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis of Knee

Treatments: Other: conventional physical therapy; Other: Electrical Dry Needling; Other: Glucosamine sulfate iontophoresis

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06578663

Horus_Phd_2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of electrical dry needling versus glucosamine sulfate iontophoresis on pain intensity level, functional ability, and knee range of motion in chronic unilateral knee osteoarthritis patients.

Full description

Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease affecting 240 million people worldwide, with a higher prevalence in older adults. The disease leads to knee deformity, laxity, and ligament instability. Dry needling, a new treatment modality, uses needle electrodes to deliver an electric current to the pain-generating trigger point, improving the physiological effects and analgesic and anesthetic effects. Iontophoresis, a safer method of drug therapy, has shown to be more effective in pain reduction in knee osteoarthritic patients. The study aims to investigate the effect of electrical dry needling versus glucosamine sulfate iontophoresis on pain intensity level, knee function, and range of motion (ROM) in chronic knee OA patients. This approach aims to maximize drug bioavailability, optimize therapeutic efficacy, and minimize side effects.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. The patient will be selected from the outpatient clinic of physical therapy at Horus University, New Damietta, Egypt, diagnosed with a Kellgren/Lawrence grade 2,3 radiological severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA). and referred by an orthopedist.
2. Age will range from 40 to 60 years.
3. Body mass index will range from 25 to 29.9 kg/m2.
4. Duration of knee pain not less than 3 months prior to study .

Exclusion criteria

1. Patients with history of cardiac disorder with pacemaker.
2. Knee surgery.
3. Diabetes and nutritional disorder.
4. Neuromuscular and other musculoskeletal diseases.
5. Any red flags to dry needling, or conventional therapy.
6. Had received physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic, or intra-articular injections for the painful knee in the last 3 months.
7. Presented with positive neurological signs.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

60 participants in 3 patient groups

conventional program

Sham Comparator group

Description:

will receive conventional physical therapy, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and an exercise therapy program (stretching exercises, both hip and knee strengthening, balance, and stability exercise)

Treatment:

Other: conventional physical therapy

dry needling and conventional program

Experimental group

Description:

will receive conventional physical therapy, plus electrical dry needling.

Treatment:

Other: Electrical Dry Needling

Other: conventional physical therapy

Glucosamine sulfate iontophoresis and conventional program

Experimental group

Description:

will receive conventional physical therapy, plus Glucosamine sulfate iontophoresis.

Treatment:

Other: Glucosamine sulfate iontophoresis

Other: conventional physical therapy