Investigating the Effectiveness of Connective Tissue Dry Needling Technique on Patients With Low Back Pain Caused by Local Pain at Superior Posterior Iliac Spine: a Single-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most widespread musculoskeletal disorders, which creates substantial disability and healthcare expenses throughout both developed and developing nations (1,2). The medical field categorizes LBP into two distinct types: specific and non-specific. The medical field identifies specific LBP through detectable causes, including infections and trauma and structural problems but non-specific LBP lacks identifiable spinal pathology and represents most cases (3,4). Research shows that LBP originates from multiple sources including intervertebral discs and facet joints and sacroiliac joints (SIJ) and their associated ligaments and muscles (5-8).

Research indicates that the SIJ acts as a primary pain source for 15-25% of patients who experience chronic LBP (9). The SIJ plays a vital biomechanical role by connecting the spine to the lower extremities through its complex network of ligaments and fascia which distributes both axial and rotational forces (10). The Posterior Superior Iliac Spine (PSIS) represents a significant anatomical reference point near the SIJ where multiple essential soft tissue structures including the long posterior sacroiliac ligament and thoracolumbar fascia and gluteus maximus converge (10,11). Studies based on clinical and anatomical evidence show that tissue dysfunction or irritation in this area leads to pain development in the PSIS region (12).

The Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) among other recent models demonstrates how fascia-bone junctions produce musculoskeletal pain through their mechanical interactions. The model indicates that extended periods of inactivity together with abnormal mechanical forces disrupt cellular communication and mineral transport at these junctions which leads to fascial adhesions and persistent pain (13,14). The complex anatomy and high sensitivity of the PSIS area has led to increased research about treatments that focus on the surrounding connective tissue structures.

The minimally invasive technique of dry needling fascial structures known as fascia dry needling (FDN) aims to create mechanical and cellular changes in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. Research shows that dry needling procedures in connective tissue areas lead to increased fibroblast activity and cytoskeletal rearrangement which may create better matrix organization and decrease pain signals (15,17-19). Research through imaging and mechanobiological studies has proven that needle rotation in both directions leads to substantial tissue movement and increased gene expression for tissue repair without inflicting any structural harm (20-25).

Research conducted with animal subjects has validated these mechanistic results through observations of tendon recovery and tissue reorganization following needling procedures (22-25). The clinical application of dry needling has produced beneficial results for patients with lateral epicondylosis and Achilles tendinopathy and thoracic pain syndromes by improving their pain levels and mobility and functional abilities (26,29,30).