Optimal Time for In-situ Dry Needling to Affect the Autonomic Nervous System

Florida Gulf Coast University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Procedure: Dry needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03728751

FGCU IRB 2018-51

Details and patient eligibility

About

Assessing for optimal time dry needles need to remain inside the body to have positive effect on the nervous system

Full description

The purpose of this study is to determine what most optimal dry needling duration effect on the autonomic nervous system.

Design: The researchers will conduct a pilot study to assess the effect of dry needling on the autonomic nervous system

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age between 18-65 years old
2. No pain at all anywhere in the body at the time of testing.
3. No caffeine containing products 3 hours before measurement and no use of over the counter Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) before the testing.

Exclusion criteria

1. Red flags identified during the subjects intake. If needling is contraindicated the subjects will be removed from the study and if necessary will be referred to an appropriate health care provider.
2. Use of blood thinners
3. History of surgery and or injury within the past six weeks
4. Evidence of central nervous system involvement, to include hyperreflexia, sensory disturbances in the hand, intrinsic muscle wasting of the hands, unsteadiness during walking, nystagmus, loss of visual acuity, impaired sensation of the face, altered taste, the presence of pathological reflexes (i.e. positive Hoffman's and/or Babinski reflexes), etc.
5. Prior surgery to the neck or thoracic spine
6. Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Dry needling or Acupuncture treatment for their neck pain in the last 3-months
7. Inability to follow directions and keep the eye open during the measurement phase of this study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 1 patient group

study group

Experimental group

Description:

Study group receiving dry needling and pupil diameter will be studied up to 23 minutes after needle placement.

Treatment:

Procedure: Dry needling