Immediate Decrease of Muscle Biomechanical Stiffness Following Dry Needling in Asymptomatic Participants

Bradley University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: dry needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04864704

BradleyU

Details and patient eligibility

About

60 healthy participants were randomized into infraspinatus, erector spinae, or gastrocnemius groups. One session of dry needling DN was applied to the muscle in standardized location. Stiffness was assessed using a MyotonPRO at baseline, immediately post DN, and 24 hours later. The presence of a localized twitch response (LTR) during DN was used to subgroup participants.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• men and women ages 18 to 65 years
• reported good general health
• tenderness or palpable trigger point in the muscle (infraspinatus, gastrocnemius, or erector spinae)

Exclusion criteria

• BMI > 30kg/m2
• surgery in the prior 12 months
• current pain in the shoulder, low back, and lower leg
• precautions to dry needling treatment (anticoagulant medications, bleeding disorders, known pregnancy)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 3 patient groups

Infraspinatus

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects infraspinatus stiffness was measured and observed

Treatment:

Other: dry needling

Erector spinae

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects erector spinae stiffness was measured and observed

Treatment:

Other: dry needling

Gastrocnemius

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects gastrocnemius stiffness was measured and observed

Treatment:

Other: dry needling