Comparing Dry Needling to Manual Therapy for Patients With Mechanical Low Back Pain

Summary

This is a comparative study to determine if there is a difference in pain reduction and disability between dry needling and manual therapy for patients with low back pain. Subjects will be seen two times per week for 3 weeks (6 visits) and will receive either dry needling or manual mobilizations along with patient education and a home exercise program.

Conditions

• Low Back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Manual therapy

The therapist will locate the involved segment using passive accessory intervertebral movements. The segment will be localized to the level, which provokes the patient's symptoms most easily, and this segment will be determined to be the involved level. Once this level has been identified, the therapist will compare central glides over the spinous process or a unilateral glide over the facet joint to determine which is more provocative. Whichever is most provocative will be the location of the treatment. The therapist will provide 3 bouts lasting 45 seconds just easing into the patient's symptoms at the most provocative level with approximately 45 seconds rest between each bout.

OTHER

Dry needling

Dry needling involves inserting a dry, mono-filament needle through the skin and into an area of symptomatic soft tissue. The two-inch needles will be placed segmentally and into the lower extremities following peripheral nerve patterning by the treating physical therapist. Following initial penetration into the skin over the tender area, the therapist carefully advances the needle into the tissue below the skin. After the needle has reached the desired depth, the therapist will insert the subsequent needles. Needles will be placed along the segmental levels of the lumbar spine above and below the tender area identified and into the lower extremity in areas that correlate with a peripheral nerve map. Needles will remain in the tissue for up to 5 minutes, removed, and appropriately disposed of.

OTHER

Home Exercise Program

A home exercise program will be given to each subject to be completed in the clinic and at home 1x/day. The exercises will consist of active range of motion exercises and core stabilization exercises. The program is standardized for all subjects.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Youngstown State University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ken Learman, PhD · Faculty

• David W Griswold, Doctorate · Faculty

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-12-31

Primary Completion

2018-08-31

Completion

2018-08-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations