Dry Needling Versus Conventional Physical Therapy in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: a Multi-center Randomized Clinical Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Sponsor
- Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture
- Enrollment
- 105
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Knee Pain Intensity (NPRS)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 8 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of conventional physical therapy (manual physical therapy, exercise, range of motion, and stretching) versus conventional physical therapy combined with dry needling in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Physical therapists commonly use conventional physical therapy techniques and dry needling to treat knee OA, and this study is attempting to find out if the addition of dry needling to conventional physical therapy has an equal, greater, or lesser effect than conventional physical therapy alone.
Detailed Description
Patients with knee OA will be randomized to receive 1-2 treatments per week for 6 weeks (up to 10 sessions total) of either: (1) Dry Needling and conventional physical therapy or the (2) Conventional physical therapy (manual physical therapy, exercise, range of motion and stretching)
Investigators
James Dunning, DPT, MSc, FAAOMPT
DPT MSc FAAOMPT
Alabama Physical Therapy & Acupuncture
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Report of knee pain of at least 2/10 per NPRS (0---10 scale) for \>3 months
- •Report of at least 3 of the following per Altman et al. (1986)
- •Over 50 Years of age
- •Less than 30 minutes of morning stiffness
- •Crepitus on active motion
- •Bony tenderness
- •Bony enlargement
- •No palpable warmth of synovium
Exclusion Criteria
- •Report of red flags to manual physical therapy to include: hypertension, infection, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, stroke, chronic ischemia, edema, severe varicosities, tumor, metabolic disease, prolonged steroid use, fracture, RA, osteoporosis, severe vascular disease, malignancy, etc.
- •History of previous surgery to the knee
- •History of physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, or injections for knee pain in the last 4 weeks
- •History of a surgical procedure on either lower extremity in last 6 months
- •Two or more positive neurologic signs consistent with nerve root compression, including any two of the following:
- •Weakness involving a major muscle group of the lower extremity.
- •Diminished patella or achilles tendon reflex
- •Diminished or absent sensation to pinprick in lower extremity dermatome
- •Involvement in litigation or worker's compensation regarding knee pain.
- •Any condition that might contraindicate the use of electro-needling
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Knee Pain Intensity (NPRS)
Time Frame: Baseline, 2 Weeks, 6 Weeks, 3 Months
Change in Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Pain)
Time Frame: Baseline, 2 Weeks, 6 Weeks, 3 Months
5 Questions each worth 0-4 points with a maximum score of 20 points possible
Change in Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Stiffness)
Time Frame: Baseline, 2 Weeks, 6 Weeks, 3 Months
2 Questions each worth 0-4 points with a maximum score of 8 points possible
Change in Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Physical Function)
Time Frame: Baseline, 2 Weeks, 6 Weeks, 3 Months
17 Questions each worth 0-4 points with a maximum score of 68 points possible
Change in Knee Osteoarthritis Index (Total)
Time Frame: Baseline, 2 Weeks, 6 Weeks, 3 Months
24 Questions each worth 0-4 points with a maximum score of 96 points possible
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Global Rating of Change Score (GROC)(2 Weeks, 6 Weeks, 3 Months)
- Change in Medicine Intake (Frequency of medication intake)(Baseline, 3 months)