Dry Needling Versus Cyriax Technique on Pain, Paraesthesia and Functional Disability in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Summary

This study is designed to compare the effectiveness of two physiotherapy techniques-Dry Needling and the Cyriax Technique-in people suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP) that radiates to the outer thigh, a condition commonly known as meralgia paresthetica.

Meralgia paresthetica occurs when a nerve called the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) gets compressed, leading to pain, numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the front or side of the thigh. Many patients also experience difficulty in performing daily activities because of these symptoms.

Dry Needling is a modern treatment where fine, sterile needles are inserted into specific muscles to relieve tension and improve nerve function. It is believed to release natural pain-relieving chemicals and reduce inflammation.

On the other hand, the Cyriax Technique is a manual therapy approach involving deep friction massage and gentle mobilizations targeted at the affected nerve area to reduce pressure and pain.

In this study, 80 participants between the ages of 30 and 50 years, who have had low back pain for more than three months and symptoms of nerve entrapment in the thigh, will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive Dry Needling therapy, and the other will receive Cyriax treatment. Both groups will also receive standard physiotherapy, including heat therapy, muscle stimulation, and stretching exercises. Treatment will continue for 8 weeks (2 sessions per week).

The aim is to evaluate and compare changes in pain, tingling/numbness (paraesthesia), and daily life functioning using recognized clinical tools such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Data will be collected at the beginning, and then again after 2, 4, and 8 weeks.

This research will help determine which therapy-Dry Needling or Cyriax-is more effective in treating patients with this type of nerve-related back and thigh pain. The findings may guide physiotherapists and healthcare providers in choosing the most suitable treatment for managing meralgia paresthetica in chronic low back pain.

Conditions

• Meralgia Paresthetica
• Chronic Low-back Pain (cLBP)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Dry Needling Therapy

Dry needling will be applied along the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) pathway, targeting muscles such as piriformis, iliacus, tensor fascia latae, vastus lateralis, and sartorius. Sterile solid filiform needles (0.25x30mm and 0.30x50mm) will be inserted for 90 seconds to 2 minutes using a cone technique and retained in situ for 15 minutes. Sessions will occur twice weekly for 8 weeks, with standard physiotherapy (hot pack, EMS, and guided stretches) administered alongside.

BEHAVIORAL

Cyriax Technique

The Cyriax technique involves deep friction massage and mobilization of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) near the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). Using the "pinch and roll" and deep pressure technique, therapists will apply sustained pressure along the nerve path in 3-5 repetitions per session, holding each for 10-15 seconds. Sessions will occur twice weekly for 8 weeks, alongside standard physiotherapy modalities and exercises.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Lahore

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

30 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-11-25

Primary Completion

2025-06-11

Completion

2025-07-19

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations