Efficacy of the Use of Dry Needling in Conventional Non-invasive Treatment of Acute and Subacute Whiplash

INTRODUCTION: Whiplash is an injury produced by an acceleration-deceleration mechanism that transmits energy to the cervical spine. According to the bibliography, the conservative treatment (motor control exercises and manual therapy) has shown benefits in approaching this lesion, but its efficacy is limited. Dry needling has already shown its usefulness in different musculoskeletal pathologies, however, its efficacy is unknown when it is included in conservative treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the effects of the incorporation of dry needling in the conventional treatment with manual therapy and motor control exercises, compared to the conventional non-invasive treatment in patients with acute or subacute whiplash.

HYPOTHESIS: The inclusion of dry needling in conventional non-invasive treatment is more effective than conventional non-invasive treatment in patients with acute or subacute whiplash.

METHODS: A randomized clinical trial will be conducted in which the subjects of study will be assigned to two groups, a control group (conventional treatment) and an experimental group (conventional treatment and dry needling).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Whiplash Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Motor Control; Other: Manual Therapy; Other: Dry Needling

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Alcalá De Henares, Spain
    • Universidad de Alcala

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Medical Diagnosis of Whiplash Grade I-II in the QTF
• Neck Pain
• Whiplash in Acute or Subacute Phase

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy
• Belonephobia
• Cervical Fractures-Dislocations or Neurological Deficit Secondaries to Accident
• Previous Surgery of the Cervical Spine
• Circulatory Disease, Respiratory Disease, Neurological Disease, Rheumatologic Disease and Mental Illness
• Athletes

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Conventional Treatment; Motor Control + Manual Therapy	Other: Motor Control; Neck Motor Control; Other: Manual Therapy; Massage + Joint Mobilizations
Experimental: Experimental Treatment; Motor Control + Manual Therapy + Dry Needling	Other: Motor Control; Neck Motor Control; Other: Manual Therapy; Massage + Joint Mobilizations; Other: Dry Needling; Dry Needling in Neck Muscles

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neck Disability Index. Changes from Baseline	0-100% (0% = No Disability; 100% = Disability (highest level of disability)	3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pressure pain thresholds. Changes from Baseline	The minimum force applied which induces pain. Measured kg/cm2	3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
Cervical Range of Movement. Changes from Baseline	Amount of cervical movement using a goniometer	3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
Kinesophobia. Changes from Baseline	Fear of movement measured by the TAMPA scale	3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months
Cervical Motor Control. Changes from Baseline	measure of cervical joint position sense using a laser	3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Alcala

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 4, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 16, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): June 10, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): April 19, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 11, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2020
• Last Verified: June 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Dry Needling; Motor Control; Whiplash; Manual Therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Neck Injuries; Whiplash Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1489327794181094

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No