Effects of 9 Points Electrical Dry Needling in Knee Osteoarthritis

Effects of 9 Points Electrical Dry Needling on Pain, Range of Motion, Function and Quality of Life in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

The study will be conducted to compare effects of 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy and standard physical therapy alone in knee osteoarthritis patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Knee Arthritis Osteoarthritis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: 9 points electrical dry needling; Other: Standard physical therapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Imran Amjad, Ph.D; Phone Number: +923324390125; Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Balochistan
    • Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, 87900
      • Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital, Quetta
      • Contact: Umair Baloch, MS-SPT; Phone Number: +923313768279; Email: drumairsiddqui77@gmail.com
      • Principal Investigator: Malaika Imran, MS-OMPT

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• participants age group from 40-60 years
• Both male and female genders
• Knee osteoarthritis (OA) confirmed by radiographic evidence (Kellgren- Lawrence grade 3).
• Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) ≥ 4/10.
• Able to stand and bear weight on affected knee.
• WOMAC score > 25 moderate level of difficulty performing ADL
• Participant with restricted range of motion
• Pain while walking and ascending stairs
• Patients volunteered to participate in the study and signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mild to severe knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 4).
• Recent knee surgery or injection (<6 months).
• Knee instability and ligamentous injury.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Patient with needle phobia and with history of abnormal reaction to needles.
• Diagnosed psychological disorders
• Anticoagulant patient, tumors and hematomas.
• All acute emergencies and acute systematic fevers.
• Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental : 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy; 3 times per week for 6 weeks	Other: 9 points electrical dry needling; 9 points electrical dry needling, stainless steel dry needles of size 0.25 into 30mm will be used, inserted perpendicularly into popliteus, adductor magnus, tibialis anterior, quad tendon, vastus lateralis, medialis, medial & lateral infrapatellar sulcus, extensor digitorum longus.; Other: Standard physical therapy; Standarized physical therapy: HOT pack for 5 min, hams & quads stretching for 30 sec & 6 reps, quads strengthening straight leg raise & leg press will be performed 15 reps & 3 sets, for hams seated leg curls & gluteal bridges will be performed 15 reps & 3 sets. MWM in weight bearing position: The glide will be applied in weight bearing, effected knee on stepper, the therapist will be exactly sitting in front of the patient & patient will be asked to place the limb up on the stepper one hand of the therapist has to be on the lateral side of the tibia and other hand on the medial side of the femur & now the patient will be asked to climb, therapist will apply medial & lateral pressure 10 reps & 3 sets.
Active Comparator: active comparator: standard physical therapy; 3 times per week for6 weeks	Other: Standard physical therapy; Standarized physical therapy: HOT pack for 5 min, hams & quads stretching for 30 sec & 6 reps, quads strengthening straight leg raise & leg press will be performed 15 reps & 3 sets, for hams seated leg curls & gluteal bridges will be performed 15 reps & 3 sets. MWM in weight bearing position: The glide will be applied in weight bearing, effected knee on stepper, the therapist will be exactly sitting in front of the patient & patient will be asked to place the limb up on the stepper one hand of the therapist has to be on the lateral side of the tibia and other hand on the medial side of the femur & now the patient will be asked to climb, therapist will apply medial & lateral pressure 10 reps & 3 sets.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)	Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) measures subjective pain intensity using an 11-point numeric scale (0-10) where 0 = "no pain" and 10 = "worst pain imaginable". Patients verbally or mark on a horizontal line the whole number best reflecting current pain severity, typically assessing "current pain," "worst pain," "least pain," or "average pain" over the prior 24 hours. Mild pain = 1-3, moderate pain = 4-6, severe pain = 7-10 guides clinical decision-making. changes in NPRS scale will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.	from enrollment to the end of 6 week
Goniometer measures joint range of motion (ROM)	Goniometer: Precision instrument measuring joint range of motion (ROM) in degrees using protractor body with two arms (stationary and movable) aligned to anatomical bony landmarks spanning the joint axis. Primary Use: Quantifies active (AROM) and passive (PROM) joint excursion for objective baseline, progress tracking, and impairment rating. Universal goniometer most common; digital/smartphone apps offer improved reliability (ICC >0.9 vs 0.74-0.91 traditional). Reliability: Long-arm > short-arm (MSD 6° vs 10°); inter/intra-rater ICC 0.84-0.99 with standardized technique. changes in knee flexion and extension ROM will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.	from enrollment to the end of 6 week
WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index)	WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) is a validated, disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure for hip/knee osteoarthritis assessing pain (5 items, 0-20), stiffness (2 items, 0-8), and physical function (17 items, 0-68) over past 48 hours. Scoring: Likert 0-4 scale per item (0=None, 4=Extreme); higher total scores (0-96) indicate worse symptoms. MCID: 12% improvement (~9-12 points) represents clinically meaningful change. changes in WOMAC score will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.	from enrollment to the end of 6 week
EQ-5D 3L (QUALITY OF LIFE)	EQ-5D-3L is developed by EuroQol groups is standardized instrument for measurement of health-related quality of life. it administers strong test-retest reliability for knee OA which of 0.73 to 0.91. Changes in EQ-5D 3L will be measured at baseline and at 6 weeks.	From enrollment to the end of 6 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Shakil ur Rehman, Ph.D, Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 25, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Arthritis, knee pain, Electrical dry needling, Grade 3 KOA, Functional limitations
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Joint Diseases; Arthritis
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR & AHS/24/0197

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