RecruitingNot Applicable

Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Iran40 participantsStarted 2022-07-25

Plain-language summary

Low back pain is a major health problem that affects psychosocial, economical, functional and physical aspects of the patients' life. The aim of this study will be to investigate the effectiveness of dry needling on pain, functional disability, postural control and pain pressure threshold in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain using a randomized controlled trial design. Patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain will be randomly divided into two groups: Experimental group (dry needling and routine physical therapy) and control group (sham dry needling and routine physical therapy). Primary outcomes will be pain intensity and functional disability. Postural control and pain pressure threshold will be considered as secondary outcomes.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 45 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients age between 18 to 45 years. * Moderate pain at rest (between 30 and 60 in NPRS). * Patients with trigger points in the lumbar multifidus muscle. * Patients have the ability to speak and read Persian. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently taking anticoagulant medications * Specific low back pain (Neurogenic low back pain, Spinal stenosis, cauda equina syndrome, spondylolisthesis, and Presence of any signs or symptoms of non-musculoskeletal pathology e.g. cancer, infection and fracture in low back and lower extremities based on paraclinical findings) * Prior surgery to the lumbosacral spine * Inability to obtain prone lying * Severe malalignments in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or pelvic region and the lower limbs * History of uncorrected vision impairment, vestibular, hearing or cognitive impairments * Leg length discrepancy which disturbs balance * Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative diseases and other rheumatoid diseases * Needle phobia * Sacroiliac pain as identified with six clinical tests: compression, distraction, sacral thrust, thigh thrust, Gaenslen's and FABER's

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Pain level

Timeframe: before intervention (baseline) and one week after intervention

Functional disability

Timeframe: before intervention (baseline) and one week after intervention

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05100381

SponsorIran University of Medical Sciences

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-07-30

Contact for this trial

Bahareh Firouzeh, Bachelor

+98-9908080623 baharefirouze74@gmail.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Low Back Pain trials