Effect of Dry Needling Multifidus on Thickness of Transversus Abdominis in Healthy Individuals

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Back Pain
• Interventions: Procedure: Dry needling; Procedure: Sham needling

• Registration Number: NCT01734577
• Lead Sponsor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Brief Summary

Intramuscular therapy (also known as dry needling) has been shown to give dramatic relief of musculoskeletal pain. The mechanisms of action remain unknown, and this study will examine for a neurophysiological effect.

Detailed Description

Consenting adults will be taught how to contract their abdominal muscles, and to contract transversus abdominis in particular. They will then have real time ultrasound measurements of the resting and contracted thickness of their left transversus abdominis muscle. After this, they will receive actual or sham needling to their left multifidus muscle by another researchers blinded to the real time ultrasound measurements. After needling or sham intervention is complete, the original researchers will return to re-measure transversus abdominis. They will be blind to intervention allocation.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-08
• Study First Submitted: 2012-11-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2012-11-26
• Study First Posted: 2012-11-27
• Status Verified: 2013-06
• Primary Completion: 2013-06
• Study Completion: 2013-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-06-17
• Last Update Posted: 2013-06-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Age, absence of back pain or symptoms for greater than 6 months and ability to perform DCC. Subjects must also report they are comfortable with being 'needled'.

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of back pain or symptoms within the last 6 months, history of: abdominal or spinal surgery, significant scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteopenia, active ankylosing spondylitis. If a subject reports a fear of needles.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Dry needling	Dry needling	Monofilament needles will be inserted into each subject's left multifidus muscle and stimulated mechanically for a local twitch response
Sham needling	Sham needling	Monofilament tubes will be pressed into the left multifidus muscle and mechanically manipulated to give the sensation that needling is occuring.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Thickness of transversus abdominis at rest and during contraction	1 day	Real time ultrasound measurement

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Nevada Las Vegas - Department of Physical Therapy; 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States