None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This research project will investigate the effect of physiotherapy treatments massage and acupuncture/dry needling on the symptoms of scars such as pain and itch. This study will provide treatment for symptomatic scars. It aims to assess change in scar symptoms over a four week period, with follow up at one and two months after that time. This will help us to evaluate these methods are for treating scar symptoms, and guide future treatment improvements. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups, both groups will receive scar massage, acupuncture and advice on self-massage, stretching and exercising. The only difference between the two groups will be the type of acupuncture/dry needling. During the study participants will be asked to complete surveys regarding their scar, and general wellbeing. They will also be asked to complete these one and two months after completion of physical treatments, and return the surveys by post or email. We expect that the scar being treated may show changes in physical characteristics and symptoms, but this is not guaranteed as everyone responds differently to treatment. The outcomes of the research may guide treatment of future patients with scars.
Interventions
Local Acupuncture Group - This treatment group will receive routine care consisting of 5 minutes of scar massage, and a hand-out with general self-management, exercise and post-treatment management advice that has been specifically designed for this trial..
They will also receive 15 minutes of acupuncture treatment applied at 2cm intervals locally around their scar with needle stimulation via bidirectional rotation at 5 and 10 minutes and immediately prior to needle removal.
Treatment will cons
Local Acupuncture Group - This treatment group will receive routine care consisting of 5 minutes of scar massage, and a hand-out with general self-management, exercise and post-treatment management advice that has been specifically designed for this trial.. They will also receive 15 minutes of acupuncture treatment applied at 2cm intervals locally around their scar with needle stimulation via bidirectional rotation at 5 and 10 minutes and immediately prior to needle removal. Treatment will consist of 6 treatments over 4 weeks (2 per week for 2 weeks then 1 per week for 2 weeks). Acupuncture treatment will be provided by a physiotherapist with 11years experience in private practice physiotherapy including 10 years dry needling and 2 years western acupuncture experience.
Sponsors
Catherine Smith
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 No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Score of at least 3/10 on numerical rating scale for pain or itch prior to enrolment. * Scar from 6 weeks to 12 months following injury.
Exclusion criteria
* Keloid scar * Atrophic scar * Current Pregnancy * Currently receiving physical scar treatment (massage, acupuncture, injection therapy) * Unstable Medical conditions (uncontrolled blood pressure, uncontrolled epilepsy) * Loss of sensation in area to be treated (nerve injury, stroke, diabetic neuropathy) * Lymphoedema in affected limb * Allergy to stainless steel * Needle Phobic * Not consenting to receive acupuncture * Individuals who are trained in providing acupuncture
Outcome results
None listed