The Effects of Dry Needling on Patients With Knee Pain

Part of paid clinical trials in Columbus, Ohio.

Sponsor
Ohio State University
Study ID
NCT02890485
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 40 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Dry Needling — DEVICE
    Dry needling consists of small, monofilament needles that are administered directly into the tissue and manipulated to make the muscle relax for pain relief. This technique is used to treat dysfunctions in skeletal muscle and connective tissue to help diminish pain, reduce impairments of body structure and restore function. Dry needling will be performed in the gluteal or the quadriceps muscle groups depending upon group randomization.
  • Sham Dry Needling — DEVICE
    The same overall procedures will be used as in the "true" dry needling groups and applied to the same muscle groups (gluteal or quadriceps) depending upon ground randomization. Sham dry needling will be performed using a commercially available sham needling system commonly.This set-up utilizes a blunt tipped needle. When the sham needle is pressed downward, the barrel of the needle retracts into the handle, giving the appearance of insertion of the needle through the skin. This also creates pressure on the subject's skin, increasing the sensation of dry needling. Patients will not be allowed to observe the areas being needled or sham needled.
  • Physical Therapy — OTHER
    Physical Therapy and exercise as determined by the examining clinician based on the patients specific impairments and functional limitations. All subjects enrolled in this study will receive an initial physical therapy (PT) evaluation and then 2 additional PT sessions a week a part. Interventions and prescribed home exercises will be specific to the patients' primary individual impairments as determined during the initial PT evaluation. These interventions reflect current evidence, but will not be restrictive to specific exercises; prescribed exercises will be deemed appropriate based on the treating PTs' examination, evaluation, and identification of each patients' primary deficits, impairments, functional limitations, and current literature.

Study Details

This study is testing the effectiveness of "dry needling" for pain management and on muscle strength and leg function for those with knee pain. Dry needling consists of small, monofilament needles that are administered directly into the tissue and manipulated to make the muscle relax for pain relief. This technique is used to treat dysfunctions in skeletal muscle and connective tissue to help diminish pain, reduce impairments of body structure and restore function.

Key Dates

Start date
Aug 31, 2016
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2028
Completion
Dec 31, 2030

Study Design

Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Glute Dry Needling
    Receives dry needling to their gluteal muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
  • Experimental: Quad Dry Needling
    Receives dry needling to their quadriceps muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
  • Sham Comparator: Glute Sham Dry Needling
    Receives sham dry needling to their gluteal muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
  • Sham Comparator: Quad Sham Dry Needling
    Receives sham dry needling to their quadriceps muscles in addition to standard physical therapy treatment.
  • Active Comparator: Control
    Receives only standard physical therapy treatment.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change from Baseline Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) score to 3 weeks [ Time Frame: Baseline and Post testing (week 3) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterColumbusOhio43221
Erik Hemenway, PTA
[email protected]
614-293-2385
John DeWitt, DPT
[email protected]
614-293-2385

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By research site
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center· Columbus, OH

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