Dry Needling for Knee Pain
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Ohio State University
Disqualifiers: Bilateral patellofemoral pain, Pregnancy, Neurological condition, others
No Placebo Group
Approved in 2 Jurisdictions
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?This trial is testing dry needling for knee pain relief in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The treatment involves inserting small needles into muscles to help them relax and reduce pain. The study aims to see if this method improves pain, muscle strength, and leg function.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be actively receiving treatment for knee pain outside of the study while enrolled.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Dry Needling for Knee Pain?
Research shows that dry needling can reduce pain in the first month after knee surgery, and it is more effective than a placebo. Additionally, dry needling has been found to help with pain and function in knee-related conditions like patellofemoral pain syndrome.
12345How does dry needling treatment for knee pain differ from other treatments?
Dry needling is unique because it involves inserting thin needles into specific muscle areas called trigger points to relieve pain and improve function, unlike other treatments that may rely on medication or physical therapy alone. It can be particularly effective for those who have not responded to conventional treatments, as it targets the muscle's electrical activity to reduce pain.
12678Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for individuals aged 18-40 with knee pain around the patella when doing activities like stairs, squatting, or running for at least 3 months. They must be referred for physical therapy and not currently receiving other treatments for knee pain. People can't join if they have bilateral knee syndrome, recent surgery or PT treatment, pregnancy, neurological conditions affecting movement, needle phobias, bleeding disorders, cancer diagnosis or systemic illnesses.Inclusion Criteria
I am between 18 and 40 years old.
I have been referred for physical therapy.
I have had knee pain near my kneecap when moving or squatting for over 3 months.
Exclusion Criteria
I have had dry needling treatments before.
I have been experiencing pain for less than 3 months.
Actively receiving treatment for knee pain outside of the current study protocol while enrolled in the study
+10 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants receive dry needling or sham dry needling to the gluteal and/or quadriceps muscles over 2 consecutive weeks in addition to standard physical therapy
2 weeks
2 sessions
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in pain, muscle performance, and function after treatment
1 week
Post testing at week 3
Participant Groups
The study examines dry needling's effectiveness in managing knee pain and improving muscle strength and leg function. Participants will receive either actual dry needling or a sham (fake) procedure alongside their regular physical therapy to compare outcomes.
5Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: Quad Dry NeedlingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Receives dry needling to their quadriceps muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
Group II: Glute Dry NeedlingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Receives dry needling to their gluteal muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
Group III: ControlActive Control1 Intervention
Receives only standard physical therapy treatment.
Group IV: Glute Sham Dry NeedlingPlacebo Group1 Intervention
Receives sham dry needling to their gluteal muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
Group V: Quad Sham Dry NeedlingPlacebo Group1 Intervention
Receives sham dry needling to their quadriceps muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
Dry Needling is already approved in United Kingdom, United States for the following indications:
🇬🇧 Approved in United Kingdom as Dry Needling for:
- Knee osteoarthritis pain management
- Muscle strength improvement
- Leg function enhancement
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Dry Needling for:
- Chronic knee pain relief
- Musculoskeletal pain management
- Myofascial pain syndrome treatment
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterColumbus, OH
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Ohio State UniversityLead Sponsor
References
Effects of Trigger Point Dry Needling for the Management of Knee Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2020]To evaluate the effect of trigger point dry needling alone or as an adjunct with other interventions on pain and related disability in people with knee pain.
Comparison of dry needling and ischaemic compression techniques on pain and function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomised clinical trial. [2021]To compare the effectiveness of ischaemic compression (IC) applied directly to the knee versus dry needling (DN) with respect to pain, functional status and sensitivity to mechanical stimulation of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).
Changes in electromyographic activity of latent trigger points after a dry needling intervention: a randomised controlled trial. [2022]To analyse the effects of dry needling (DN) in upper trapezius latent trigger points (LTrPs) on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and surface electromyography (sEMG).
Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling Immediately After Application on Myofascial Trigger Point in Upper Trapezius Muscle. [2022]The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dry needling (DN) on pain intensity and pressure pain threshold (PPT) compared with ischemic compression (IC) immediately and 48 hours after each treatment session in individuals with myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle.
Efficacy of myofascial trigger point dry needling in the prevention of pain after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. [2022]The aim of this study was to determine whether the dry needling of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) is superior to placebo in the prevention of pain after total knee arthroplasty. Forty subjects were randomised to a true dry needling group (T) or to a sham group (S). All were examined for MTrPs by an experienced physical therapist 4-5 hours before surgery. Immediately following anesthesiology and before surgery started, subjects in the T group were dry needled in all previously diagnosed MTrPs, while the S group received no treatment in their MTrPs. Subjects were blinded to group allocation as well as the examiner in presurgical and follow-up examinations performed 1, 3, and 6 months after arthroplasty. Subjects in the T group had less pain after intervention, with statistically significant differences in the variation rate of the visual analogue scale (VAS) measurements 1 month after intervention and in the need for immediate postsurgery analgesics. Differences were not significant at 3- and 6-month follow-up examinations. In conclusion, a single dry needling treatment of MTrP under anaesthesia reduced pain in the first month after knee arthroplasty, when pain was the most severe. Results show a superiority of dry needling versus placebo. An interesting novel placebo methodology for dry needling, with a real blinding procedure, is presented.
Dry Needling Combined With Physical Therapy in Patients With Chronic Postsurgical Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Series. [2022]Study Design Case series. Background This case series describes a combined program of dry needling and therapeutic exercise in a small group of patients with persistent pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Case Description Fourteen patients who underwent TKA had persistent postsurgical pain and myofascial trigger points that were nonresponsive to treatment with conventional physical therapy and/or medication. The patients received a weekly dry needling treatment in combination with therapeutic exercises for 4 weeks. Pain perception was assessed preintervention and postintervention with a visual analog scale and function was assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, 6-minute walk test, timed up-and-go test, 30-second chair-stand test, and knee joint range of motion. Outcomes After TKA, the patients had a mean ± SD symptom duration of 6.3 ± 3.1 months. Subsequent to dry needling, patients reported a significant mean ± SD decrease in pain intensity from 55.6 ± 6.6 to 19.3 ± 5.6 (P
Inhibitory effect of dry needling on the spontaneous electrical activity recorded from myofascial trigger spots of rabbit skeletal muscle. [2019]Dry needling of myofascial trigger points can relieve myofascial pain if local twitch responses are elicited during needling. Spontaneous electrical activity (SEA) recorded from an active locus in a myofascial trigger point region has been used to assess the myofascial trigger point sensitivity. This study was to investigate the effect of dry needling on SEA.
Dry needling trigger points around knee and hip joints improves function in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. [2021]Dry needling may be an effective method to alleviate pain and improve range of motion. Controversial results have been found in previous studies using dry needling in knee problems. So, the aim of current study is to exert dry needling technique on unilateral muscles around the hip and knee joints and evaluate its effects on knee osteoarthritic patients.