Journal article
The association between dry needling-induced twitch response and change in pain and muscle function in patients with low back pain: a quasi-experimental study
Physiotherapy, Vol.103(2), pp.131-137
2017
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the relationship between dry needling-induced twitch response and change in pain, disability, nociceptive sensitivity, and lumbar multifidus muscle function, in patients with low back pain (LBP).
Design
Quasi-experimental study.
Setting
Department of Defense Academic Institution.
Participants
Sixty-six patients with mechanical LBP (38 men, 28 women, age: 41.3 [9.2] years).
Interventions
Dry needling treatment to the lumbar multifidus muscles between L3 and L5 bilaterally.
Main outcome measures
Examination procedures included numeric pain rating, the Modified Oswestry Disability Index, pressure algometry, and real-time ultrasound imaging assessment of lumbar multifidus muscle function before and after dry needling treatment. Pain pressure threshold (PPT) was used to measure nocioceptive sensitivity. The percent change in muscle thickness from rest to contraction was calculated to represent muscle function. Participants were dichotomized and compared based on whether or not they experienced at least one twitch response on the most painful side and spinal level during dry needling.
Results
Participants experiencing local twitch response during dry needling exhibited greater immediate improvement in lumbar multifidus muscle function than participants who did not experience a twitch (thickness change with twitch: 12.4 [6]%, thickness change without twitch: 5.7 [11]%, mean difference adjusted for baseline value, 95%CI: 4.4 [1 to 8]%). However, this difference was not present after 1-week, and there were no between-groups differences in disability, pain intensity, or nociceptive sensitivity.
Conclusions
The twitch response during dry needling might be clinically relevant, but should not be considered necessary for successful treatment.
Details
- Title
- The association between dry needling-induced twitch response and change in pain and muscle function in patients with low back pain: a quasi-experimental study
- Authors/Creators
- S.L. Koppenhaver (Author/Creator)M.J. Walker (Author/Creator)C.P. Rettig (Author/Creator)J. Davis (Author/Creator)C. Nelson (Author/Creator)J. Su (Author/Creator)C. Fernández-de-las-Peñas (Author/Creator)J.J. Hebert (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Physiotherapy, Vol.103(2), pp.131-137
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Identifiers
- 991005544578207891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.129 Back pain
- 1.129.98 Low Back Pain
- Web Of Science research areas
- Rehabilitation
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine