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Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Physical Therapy Versus Physical Therapy Alone Following Shoulder Stabilization Repair

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Shoulder Pain
Interventions
Device: Rehabilitation and Dry Needling
Device: Rehabilitation
Registration Number
NCT02704975
Lead Sponsor
Keller Army Community Hospital
Brief Summary

The purpose of this single-blinded, randomized clinical trial is to determine the effectiveness of dry needling compared to a standard shoulder rehabilitation program on range of motion, functional movement, and pain in patients who have undergone shoulder stabilization surgery. Measurements of the aforementioned dependent variables will be taken at time intervals of four weeks, eight weeks, 12 weeks, and six months post-operatively. It is hypothesized that the inclusion of dry needling will result in an increase in range of motion, increase in functional movement, and decrease in pain at an accelerated rate when compared to rehabilitation alone.

Detailed Description

Methodology /Technical Approach 30-50 subjects at least four weeks after shoulder stabilization surgery will be randomized into two groups (one experimental group and one control group). Subjects in the experimental group will receive Trigger Point Dry Needling (TDN) intervention with standard rehabilitation protocol (Appendix A) while subjects in the control group will receive the same standard rehabilitation protocol without TDN. The experimental group will receive trigger point dry needling one time per week for four to six weeks in addition to the standard rehabilitation protocol. The control group will receive only the standard rehabilitation protocol. Baseline measurements will be taken at approximately four weeks post operatively, and subsequent measurements will be recorded at eight weeks, 12 weeks, and six months.

All patients who have undergone a shoulder stabilization procedure will be invited to participate. Description of the study and informed consent will take place prior to randomization. Concealed randomization will take place 0-7 days post-operatively.

At 4 weeks post-operatively, the following assessment tests will be undertaken: supine shoulder flexion, supine shoulder external rotation, supine shoulder internal rotation, functional movement testing, functional outcome measures, and the numeric pain rating scale. 1,2,3 Those subjects in the 'experimental group' will receive manual palpation of all upper quarter muscles, including the cervical and thoracic spine region, to detect the presence of myofascial trigger points (TPs). Dry needling will be performed to all detected TPs by a provider trained and experienced in TDN.

In addition to the TDN intervention, the experimental group subjects will undergo a rehabilitation program in accordance with a shoulder stabilization repair protocol which is the standard of care for this surgical procedure. Per the shoulder stabilization protocol, subjects will be instructed in a home exercise plan (HEP) that will reinforce the clinical treatment, will be provided with a handout of instructions, and will be required to demonstrate all exercises correctly.

Subjects in the 'control group' will undergo a rehabilitation program as described above for the 'experimental group', except that they will not receive a TDN intervention.

Objectives:

1. To determine if the addition of upper quarter TDN to a rehabilitation protocol is more effective in improving range of motion and functional movement when compared to a rehabilitation protocol alone after shoulder stabilization surgery.

2. To determine if the addition of upper quarter TDN to a rehabilitation protocol is more effective in decreasing pain than a rehabilitation protocol alone after shoulder stabilization surgery.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
39
Inclusion Criteria
  • 18-40 yo DOD Beneficiaries
  • Status Post Shoulder Stabilization Repair Surgery
Exclusion Criteria
  • Self-Reported Pregnancy
  • History of blood borne pathogens/infectious disease/active infection/metal allergy
  • Bleeding disorders or currently taking anti-coagulant medications
  • Participants who are not fluent in English

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Rehabilitation and Dry NeedlingRehabilitation and Dry NeedlingStandard Rehabilitation Protocol following shoulder stabilization surgery and Dry Needling to the Shoulder girdle 1 time a week for 4 weeks between weeks 4 and 8 post operatively
RehabilitationRehabilitationStandard Rehabilitation Protocol following shoulder stabilization surgery alone
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Shoulder Flexion and External Rotation Passive Range of Motion as measured with standard GoniometerChange from Baseline at 4 weeks to 8 weeks

Baseline ROM change from baseline 4 week time point to follow up at 8 week time point

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Shoulder Flexion and External Rotation Passive Range of Motion as measured with standard Goniometer12 weeks, 6 months
Global Rating of Change Score4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months
Patient Specific Functional Score4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months
Shoulder Functional Movement4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months
Pain4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months

Numeric Pain Rating Scale

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