Treatment Time-frame Guideline for Dry Needling in the Lower Limb

Institute of Technology, Carlow

Status: Completed

Conditions: Trigger Points

Treatments: Procedure: Dry needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04161105

DomMSc

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the impact of treating myofascial trigger points with a single session of dry needling on maximal isometric strength in the short term. Two groups will receive dry needling in separate muscle groups and a third group will receive no dry needling.

Full description

Dry needling is a effective treatment for myofascial trigger points. It is very common in a sporting environment. Strength is a key aspect of athletic performance. Despite the prevalence of dry needling within a sporting environment, the effects of dry needling on strength remains unknown.

This study will investigate the effects of dry needling on maximal isometric strength with a view to informing clinical practice amongst clinicians working in the elite sport setting.

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Must have latent trigger points in their rectus femoris and gluteus maximus

Exclusion criteria

• Active trigger points in rectus femoris or gluteus maximus
• Participants with current injuries
• History of fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome
• History of blood disorder which prevents dry needling
• Needle phobia
• History of surgery in the last 6 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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28 participants in 3 patient groups

Rectus femoris dry needling group

Experimental group

Description:

The rectus femoris dry needling group will have their strength assessed. They will then receive one treatment of dry needling to a trigger point in their rectus femoris muscle. They will have their strength re-assessed 24, 48 \& 72 hours after dry needling.

Treatment:

Procedure: Dry needling

Gluteus maximus dry needling group

Experimental group

Description:

The gluteus maximus dry needling group will have their strength assessed. They will then receive one treatment of dry needling to trigger points in their gluteus maximus muscle only. They will have their strength re-assessed 24, 48 \& 72 hours after dry needling.

Treatment:

Procedure: Dry needling

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

This group will receive no intervention. They will have their strength assessed at baseline and 24, 48 \& 72 hour follow-up