Pain Intervention With Needling: Pilot Of Integrated Neuromodulation Techniques

Summary

The study's purpose is to determine the effects of three different dry needling sessions on pain and quality of life for those with chronic low back pain. Dry needling is a therapeutic procedure in which a very thin, monofilament needle is inserted through the skin to reach a target tissue like a muscle to help reduce pain, improve muscle activation, and increase blood flow. Dry needling has also been shown to improve nervous system function.

Conditions

• Pain
• Back Pain
• Lower Back Pain
• Quality of Life

Interventions

OTHER

Dry Needling

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique where thin, solid filiform needles are inserted into trigger points, tight muscle bands, or areas of muscle tension without injecting any medication. The procedure aims to release muscle knots, reduce pain, and improve muscle function by stimulating the body's natural healing response.

OTHER

Dry needling with high-rate PENS

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique where thin, solid filiform needles are inserted into trigger points, tight muscle bands, or areas of muscle tension without injecting any medication. The procedure aims to release muscle knots, reduce pain, and improve muscle function by stimulating the body's natural healing response. When combined with high-rate percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), the needles serve as electrodes for delivering a controlled, high-frequency electrical current directly to the targeted tissues. This electrical stimulation further modulates pain signals, promotes muscle relaxation, and can enhance the effectiveness of dry needling, especially for persistent pain and neuromuscular dysfunction.

OTHER

Dry needling with low-rate PENS

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique where thin, solid filiform needles are inserted into trigger points, tight muscle bands, or areas of muscle tension without injecting any medication. The procedure aims to release muscle knots, reduce pain, and improve muscle function by stimulating the body's natural healing response. When combined with low-rate percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), the needles serve as electrodes for delivering a controlled, low-frequency electrical current directly to the targeted tissues. This electrical stimulation further modulates pain signals, promotes muscle relaxation, and can enhance the effectiveness of dry needling, especially for persistent pain and neuromuscular dysfunction.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

  collaborator NIH

• The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-10-23

Primary Completion

2027-08-31

Completion

2027-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations