Traditional Acupuncture and Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling and Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain

Sponsor

Hermano Miguel Foundation (Other)

Overall Status

Unknown status

CT.gov ID

NCT00804089

Collaborator

Ecuadorian Federation of Physiotherapy, Tungurahua Branch (Other), Technical University of Ambato (Other)

Enrollment

Locations

Arms

Patients Per Site

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture using traditional acupoints and Ashi points with myofascial trigger points superficial dry needling and acupressure, followed by postisometric stretching of the appropriate muscles, in the treatment of patients with chronic mechanical low back pain.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Low Back Pain	Procedure: Traditional needle acupuncture Procedure: Myofascial trigger point dry needling Procedure: Myofascial trigger point acupressure	N/A

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Anticipated Enrollment :

90 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Parallel Assignment

Masking:

Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Primary Purpose:

Treatment

Official Title:

Randomised Comparative Pragmatic Clinical Trial of Traditional Acupuncture and Superficial Dry Needling and Acupressure of Myofascial Trigger Points for the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain

Study Start Date :

Dec 1, 2008

Anticipated Primary Completion Date :

Mar 1, 2009

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: 1 Traditional needle acupuncture	Procedure: Traditional needle acupuncture Traditional needle acupuncture using traditional meridian acupoints and Ashi (tender) points
Active Comparator: 2 Myofascial trigger point dry needling	Procedure: Myofascial trigger point dry needling Superficial dry needling of myofascial trigger points found in the muscles related to low back pain, followed by their postisometric stretching
Active Comparator: 3 Myofascial trigger point acupressure	Procedure: Myofascial trigger point acupressure Blunt needle acupressure of myofascial trigger points found in the muscles related to low back pain, followed by their postisometric stretching

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: 1

Traditional needle acupuncture

Procedure: Traditional needle acupuncture

Traditional needle acupuncture using traditional meridian acupoints and Ashi (tender) points

Active Comparator: 2

Myofascial trigger point dry needling

Procedure: Myofascial trigger point dry needling

Superficial dry needling of myofascial trigger points found in the muscles related to low back pain, followed by their postisometric stretching

Active Comparator: 3

Myofascial trigger point acupressure

Procedure: Myofascial trigger point acupressure

Blunt needle acupressure of myofascial trigger points found in the muscles related to low back pain, followed by their postisometric stretching

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

Clinical diagnosis of mechanical lower back pain for at least three months.
The chronic mechanical lower back pain is the chief complaint, with or without leg pain.
The lower back pain is disabling to the degree that affects the patient's routine job and/or his or her lifestyle.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with tumor, infection, major trauma to the spine causing fracture or disruption of the major ligaments, or cauda equina syndrome.
Patients with neurological signs of spinal nerve compression.
Patients having undergone spinal surgery, facet joint block and/or corticoid injection.
Patients with general contraindications for acupuncture or acupressure treatment.