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Dry Needling for Muscle Spasms After Stroke

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Aiko K Thompson, PhD

Research Sponsored by Medical University of South Carolina

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up baseline, 90 minutes after ddn, and 72 hours after ddn

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing the effects of dry needling on spasticity in people with chronic stroke.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults over 18 years old with muscle stiffness from a stroke that happened more than a year ago and are medically stable. It's also for those without neurological injuries. People can't join if they have certain medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding issues, severe anxiety, metal allergies, or heart problems.

What is being tested?

The study tests dry needling—a technique where a thin needle is used to relieve muscle knots and pain in people with spasticity after stroke. Participants will undergo this procedure once and then be evaluated on reflexes and limb function over two days.

What are the potential side effects?

Dry needling may cause some discomfort at the needle site, minor bleeding or bruising, temporary soreness in the muscles treated, or an allergic reaction if one has metal allergies.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ baseline, immediately after ddn, 90 minutes after ddn, and 72 hours after ddn

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~baseline, immediately after ddn, 90 minutes after ddn, and 72 hours after ddn

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline, immediately after ddn, 90 minutes after ddn, and 72 hours after ddn for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

2. Changes in cutaneous reflexes elicited by non-noxious stimulation of cutaneous or mix nerves

3. Changes in perception of cutaneous stimuli as measured by perception and radiating threshold of cutaneous nerve stimulation

Changes in the H-reflex amplitude in response to nerve stimulation

Secondary study objectives

Change in ability to move the arm or leg as measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA)

Pain

Change in spasticity as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (mAS)

+2 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Individuals with spasticity resulting from strokeExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

This is an experimental intervention in which individuals will receive dry needling to relieve spasticity in the target muscle. The study team will examine the effects of this treatment on the nervous system by performing assessments just prior to, immediately after, 90 minutes after, and 72 hours after dry needling. These assessments will examine how you move your arm or leg and how your nervous system responds to non-invasive nerve stimulation.

Group II: Individuals with no known neurological injuryExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

This is an experimental intervention in which individuals will receive dry needling of an arm or leg muscle. The study team will examine the effects of this treatment on the nervous system by performing assessments just prior to, immediately after, 90 minutes after, and 72 hours after dry needling. These assessments will examine how you move your arm or leg and how your nervous system responds to non-invasive nerve stimulation.

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

Dry Needling

2020

Completed Phase 2

~1090

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