Effect of Dry Needling Multifidus on Thickness of Transversus Abdominis in Healthy Individuals

June 17, 2013 updated by: Emilio, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

The Effect of Trigger Point Dry Needling to the Multifidus Muscle on Resting and Contracted Thickness of Transversus Abdominis in Healthy Subjects

Intramuscular therapy (also known as dry needling) has been shown to give dramatic relief of musculoskeletal pain. The mechanisms of action remain unknown, and this study will examine for a neurophysiological effect.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Consenting adults will be taught how to contract their abdominal muscles, and to contract transversus abdominis in particular. They will then have real time ultrasound measurements of the resting and contracted thickness of their left transversus abdominis muscle. After this, they will receive actual or sham needling to their left multifidus muscle by another researchers blinded to the real time ultrasound measurements. After needling or sham intervention is complete, the original researchers will return to re-measure transversus abdominis. They will be blind to intervention allocation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Nevada
      • Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89154
        • University of Nevada Las Vegas - Department of Physical Therapy

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age, absence of back pain or symptoms for greater than 6 months and ability to perform DCC. Subjects must also report they are comfortable with being 'needled'.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of back pain or symptoms within the last 6 months, history of: abdominal or spinal surgery, significant scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteopenia, active ankylosing spondylitis. If a subject reports a fear of needles.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Dry needling
Monofilament needles will be inserted into each subject's left multifidus muscle and stimulated mechanically for a local twitch response
Procedure: Dry needling
Sterile monofilament needles
Sham Comparator: Sham needling
Monofilament tubes will be pressed into the left multifidus muscle and mechanically manipulated to give the sensation that needling is occuring.
Procedure: Sham needling
Applicator tubes from the sterile monofilament needles

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Thickness of transversus abdominis at rest and during contraction
Time Frame: 1 day
Real time ultrasound measurement
1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Investigators

  • Study Director: Daniella Morton, BSc, University of Nevada Las Vegas Physical Therapy
  • Study Director: Sarah Buckingham, BSc, University of Nevada Las Vegas Physical Therapy
  • Study Director: Crystal Montoya, BSc, Univesity of Nevada Las Vegas Physical Therapy

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 21, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 26, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

November 27, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 19, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 17, 2013

Last Verified

June 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UNLVPT-4059

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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