Traditional Acupuncture and Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling and Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain

Hermano Miguel Foundation

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Low Back Pain

Treatments: Procedure: Myofascial trigger point dry needling; Procedure: Traditional needle acupuncture; Procedure: Myofascial trigger point acupressure

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00804089

AR1-001-2008

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture using traditional acupoints and Ashi points with myofascial trigger points superficial dry needling and acupressure, followed by postisometric stretching of the appropriate muscles, in the treatment of patients with chronic mechanical low back pain.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of mechanical lower back pain for at least three months.
• The chronic mechanical lower back pain is the chief complaint, with or without leg pain.
• The lower back pain is disabling to the degree that affects the patient's routine job and/or his or her lifestyle.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with tumor, infection, major trauma to the spine causing fracture or disruption of the major ligaments, or cauda equina syndrome.
• Patients with neurological signs of spinal nerve compression.
• Patients having undergone spinal surgery, facet joint block and/or corticoid injection.
• Patients with general contraindications for acupuncture or acupressure treatment.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Traditional needle acupuncture

Treatment:

Procedure: Traditional needle acupuncture

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Myofascial trigger point dry needling

Treatment:

Procedure: Myofascial trigger point dry needling

3

Active Comparator group

Description:

Myofascial trigger point acupressure

Treatment:

Procedure: Myofascial trigger point acupressure