The Effect of Dry Needling on Muscle Stiffness, Gait, Motion, and Strength in Healthy Individuals With Trigger Points

The Effect of Dry Needling on Muscle Stiffness, Gait, Motion, and Strength in Healthy Individuals With Latent Trigger Points

This study would be the first study to assess the immediate effects of dry needling of latent trigger points of the gastrocnemius muscle on muscle stiffness, gait, range of motion, and strength. The study has the potential to demonstrate that dry needling may have immediate effects on mechanical properties of muscle and may thus guide future treatment for individuals with changes in muscle tissue secondary to pain and/or injury.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Dry Needling; Other: Sham Dry Needlling

Detailed Description

Participants will complete the following tests: muscle stiffness testing in both a relaxed and contracted position, GAITRite for spatial and temporal gait characteristics, the Ankle Lunge Test (ALT) to assess range of motion, and calf strength using a dynamometer. Subjects will then receive treatment according to which group they are randomized. Muscle stiffness, gait, motion and strength will be reassessed immediately following treatment at the first session. Four to10 days later, participants will complete the same tests and measures prior to treatment being administered a second time. Another 4-10 days after the second session, participants will complete the tests and measures one final time.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 102
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Denver, Colorado, United States, 80221
      • Regis University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18-50 years
2. Able to read and speak sufficient English to complete consent form
3. Symmetrical gait pattern demonstrated through observation
4. Presence of latent trigger point in gastrocnemius muscle

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any prior foot/ankle surgery, deformity, or injury on the which would affect strength of the gastrocnemius
2. Any prior acupuncture or dry needling within the past month
3. History of systemic disorder in which dry needling would be contraindicated (i.e. bleeding disorders or anticoagulant medication use)
4. Have fractures of the spine, hip, or knee that would likely affect their weight bearing or gait
5. Restrictions in plantar flexion range of motion which would inhibit performing a heel raise
6. No specific calf injury in the past 6 months
7. Participants known or thought to be pregnant

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dry Needling Group; Individuals in the DN arm will receive two treatment sessions of DN to latent trigger points of the gastrocnemius muscle.	Other: Dry Needling; Individuals randomized to the Dry Needling Group will receive dry needling to latent trigger points of the gastrocnemius muscle
Sham Comparator: Control Group; Individuals in the control group will receive two treatment sessions of sham dry needling.	Other: Sham Dry Needlling; Individuals randomized to the Control group will receive sham needling to the gastrocnemius muscle

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
MyotonPRO	Muscle stiffness will be measured in both a resting and contracted state utilizing this non-invasive device	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee to wall	Group by time differences will be assessed for talocrural motion (knee to wall)	2 years
GAITRite	Group by time differences will be assessed for gait variables (utilizing the GAITRite 6-meter mat)	2 years
Handheld dynamometer	Group by time differences will be assessed for strength of the gastrosoleus complex (utilizing a handheld dynamometer)	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Regis University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Stephanie Albin, PhD, Regis University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Furlan AD, van Tulder M, Cherkin D, Tsukayama H, Lao L, Koes B, Berman B. Acupuncture and dry-needling for low back pain: an updated systematic review within the framework of the cochrane collaboration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005 Apr 15;30(8):944-63. doi: 10.1097/01.brs.0000158941.21571.01.
• Ballyns JJ, Turo D, Otto P, Shah JP, Hammond J, Gebreab T, Gerber LH, Sikdar S. Office-based elastographic technique for quantifying mechanical properties of skeletal muscle. J Ultrasound Med. 2012 Aug;31(8):1209-19. doi: 10.7863/jum.2012.31.8.1209.
• Bandy WD, Nelson R, Beamer L. COMPARISON OF DRY NEEDLING VS. SHAM ON THE PERFORMANCE OF VERTICAL JUMP. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Oct;12(5):747-751.
• Chuang LL, Wu CY, Lin KC. Reliability, validity, and responsiveness of myotonometric measurement of muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness in patients with stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Mar;93(3):532-40. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.09.014. Epub 2012 Jan 4.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 25, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): January 21, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 26, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): September 28, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 22, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 21, 2020
• Last Verified: January 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: RegisU

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