Study of Effects of Electroacupuncture on Balance in Subjects With Chronic Functional Ankle Instability

March 18, 2014 updated by: Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

A Single Application of Electroacupuncture Improves Balance Greater Than Placebo Control in Subjects With Chronic Functional Ankle Instability

Introduction: Ankle sprains, the most common sports-related musculoskeletal injury, account for approximately 25% of sports injuries. An estimated 40% of these individuals will progress to develop chronic functional ankle instability (CFAI), which can significantly affect athletic performance and activities of daily life. Stresses from the injury can damage the ligaments, muscles, nerves and mechanoreceptors. It is widely accepted that ankle proprioception is critical for balance and that individuals with CFAI demonstrate decreased proprioception and altered muscular function, which impairs postural stability. The goal of this study is to determine if a single application of electroacupuncture can have an immediate positive outcome related to balance in individuals with CFAI.

Methods: This single blinded randomized trial will include 12 subjects receiving a single application of electroacupuncture and 12 subjects in the placebo group receiving sham electroacupuncture. Subjects aged 18-50 with a history of unilateral inversion ankle sprain(s) and chronic symptoms of instability will be selected. Balance will be assessed pre- and post-treatment using force plate data during a single-leg stance and via the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). GB-34 and GB-40 will be used for the experimental group and non-traditional points on the medial aspect of the leg will be used for the sham electroacupuncture group. Both will be connected to the electrical stimulation unit for 10 minutes. Results from this study may inform future research investigating the ability of EA at decreasing the risk of ankle sprains, improving perceived stability, and reducing the risk of subsequent degenerative changes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

A single application of electroacupuncture improves balance greater than placebo control in subjects with chronic functional ankle instability

Specific Aim #1:

Evaluate the effect of a single application of electroacupuncture on center of pressure mean total velocity in individuals with chronic functional ankle instability during single-leg stance compared to placebo control.

H0: EA will not improve postural sway during single-leg stance compared to placebo control.

Specific Aim #2:

Describe the effects of a single application of EA compared to placebo on mean total displacement, as well as the mediolateral and anterioposterior components during single-leg stance for possible trends to inform hypothesis generation.

Specific Aim #3:

Correlate the results from the Star Excursion Balance Test with results of the single-leg stance measures to inform hypothesis generation.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

24

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

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M2H 3J1
        • Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

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 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-50 years old
  • History of inversion ankle sprains
  • Chronic symptoms of instability

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Please see inclusion criteria

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

  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Electroacupuncture
Subjects will do balance assessment in lab. In treatment room, practitioner will clean insertion area with alcohol swab, allow adequate time to dry, and insert 2 Asia-Med Special No 16 (0.30x30mm) needles: one at proximal insertion of fibularis longus anterior to fibular neck, in proximity to common fibular nerve (GB-34); one over sinus tarsi and lateral ligaments of ankle mortise (GB-40). Needles will be inserted approximately 1-2cm, connected for 10 min at 2Hz to electrical stimulation (ITO ES-130, 500 ohm test load, 1 to 500Hz). Needles will disposed of in sharps container. Area will be wiped with long handled cotton swab, pressure will be applied for 2 seconds. Subjects will be asked to slowly get up from table and return to lab for second balance assessment.
Device: Asia-Med Special No 16 (0.30x30mm) needles
Subjects will do balance assessment in lab. In treatment room, practitioner will clean insertion area with alcohol swab, allow adequate time to dry, and insert 2 Asia-Med Special No 16 (0.30x30mm) needles: one at proximal insertion of fibularis longus anterior to fibular neck, in proximity to common fibular nerve (GB-34); one over sinus tarsi and lateral ligaments of ankle mortise (GB-40). Needles will be inserted approximately 1-2cm, connected for 10 min at 2Hz to electrical stimulation (ITO ES-130, 500 ohm test load, 1 to 500Hz). Needles will disposed of in sharps container. Area will be wiped with long handled cotton swab, pressure will be applied for 2 seconds. Subjects will be asked to slowly get up from table and return to lab for second balance assessment.
Other Names:
  • Electroacupuncture
Sham Comparator: Control
As with experimental group, controls will do balance assessment pre- and post-intervention. Streitberger placebo needles (Asia-Med, 0.03 x 30 mm), blunted with a telescoping mechanism, will be used. Subjects will feel slight prick, and shaft will telescope into handle, creating illusion of skin penetration. Needles will be held in place by plastic ring covered by a bandage. They are validated for blinding. They will be placed over non-traditional acupuncture points on medial aspect of leg, in direct opposition to treatment group needles. Needle placement is not intended to produce therapeutic outcome. The needles will be connected to a wire, which will be turned on for 10 minutes but no stimulation will be felt.
Device: Streitberger placebo needles (Asia-Med, 0.03 x 30 mm)
As with experimental group, controls will do balance assessment pre- and post-intervention. Streitberger placebo needles (Asia-Med, 0.03 x 30 mm), blunted with a telescoping mechanism, will be used. Subjects will feel slight prick, and shaft will telescope into handle, creating illusion of skin penetration. Needles will be held in place by plastic ring covered by a bandage. They are validated for blinding. They will be placed over non-traditional acupuncture points on medial aspect of leg, in direct opposition to treatment group needles. Needle placement is not intended to produce therapeutic outcome. The needles will be connected to a wire, which will be turned on for 10 minutes but no stimulation will be felt.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Tests of single-leg standing
Time Frame: 10 seconds
Tests of single-leg standing balance have been demonstrated to have moderate to excellent group reliability, and therefore are being utilized to compare the balance performance of subjects with chronic functional ankle instability
10 seconds

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Tracy Rowan, DC, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

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

January 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 24, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 5, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

February 6, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 19, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 18, 2014

Last Verified

March 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 122017

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.

Clinical Trials on Ankle Sprain

Clinical Trials on Asia-Med Special No 16 (0.30x30mm) needles

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Portugal

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe