None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Background: One of the possible analgesic mechanisms of the dry needling is the analgesia caused by stress, produced by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Although it is known that some techniques as acupuncture produce some changes in the autonomic nervous system, there is still a knowledge gap about the relation between dry needling and the autonomic nervous system. Aim: To determine if the application of dry needling causes the activation of the sympathetic nervous system generating an analgesic effect by stress in healthy subjects. Methodology: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was performed at the University of Alcalá, involving a sample of 65 healthy volunteer subjects who accomplish the selection criteria, with an average age of 27,78 (DT = 8,41) years, within which the 50,8 per cent are men and the 49,2 per cent are women. The participants have been assigned by random to participate in group 1, to which a deep dry needling has been applied; or in group 2, to which a placebo needling technique has been applied. The intervention technique was applied in the adductor pollicis muscle of the left hand in both groups. In order to evaluate the sympathetic nervous system, the skin conductance, the heart rate, the heart rate variability, the skin temperature and the breathing rate prior have been measured, during and twice after the intervenction; with the biofeedback Nexus 10 MK-II equipment, as well as the salivary cortisol levels before and after the intervenction. The pressure pain threshold has been collected in the adductor pollicis muscle of the left hand and of the right tibialis anterior with a hand algometer, before and after the intervention. Moreover, the pain during the dry needling has been registered through a Verbal Numerical Scale of pain and the elicited local twitch responses. Key words: Dry needling, Physiological Effects, Autonomic Nervous System.
Interventions
Group 1:
Participants in Group 1 will receive one session of dry needling using the fast-in and fast-out technique described by Hong of the adductor pollicis muscle on the left hand.
- Materials: a felt-tip pen to mark the latent myofascial trigger point, alcohol, and disposable stainless-steel needles (0.3 × 30 mm; Novasan, S.A., Madrid, Spain)
- Procedures: Participants will be placed in a supine position on the examination table. The physiotherapist will locate and mark the latent myofas
Group 1: Participants in Group 1 will receive one session of dry needling using the fast-in and fast-out technique described by Hong of the adductor pollicis muscle on the left hand. - Materials: a felt-tip pen to mark the latent myofascial trigger point, alcohol, and disposable stainless-steel needles (0.3 × 30 mm; Novasan, S.A., Madrid, Spain) - Procedures: Participants will be placed in a supine position on the examination table. The physiotherapist will locate and mark the latent myofascial trigger point of the adductor pollicis muscle on the left hand with a pincer palpation. Once the latent myofascial trigger point is located, the overlying skin will be cleaned with alcohol. The subject will put its forearm in a neutral pronosupination, and the needle will be inserted into the subject's skin over the palpated latent miofascial trigger point, from the dorsal zone to the palmar zone. The needle will be inserted so as to penetrate the skin 10 to 15 mm until a local twitch response is obtained. Once this response is obtained, the needle will be moved up and down (2- to 3-mm vertical motions with no rotations) 12 times at approximately 1 Hz. As soon as the needle is pulled out from the subject's skin, the physiotherapist will press firmly the region of the needle insertion for at least 2 minutes, to prevent excessive bleeding. - Who: the intervention will be provided by a university professor expert in dry needling. The professor itself will make all the interventions. - The study will be carried out in a conditioned room of Alcala de Henares University
Sponsors
Alcala Henares University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Subjects need to be: - Healthy - Between 18 and 65 . Subjects need to have: - Latent myofascial trigger point at adductor pollicis muscle in left hand - No pain
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded from the study if they have a history of acute illness, malignancy, pregnancy, muscle disease, cognitive dysfunction, fibromyalgia, neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, fear of needles, and previous dry needling intervention in the last 6 months.
Outcome results
None listed