Multiple Sclerosis, Spasticity
Conditions
Keywords
multiple sclerosis, Dry needling, Spasticity, Mobility, Balance
Brief summary
The investigators are doing this study to see if a treatment called dry needling improves muscle spasticity (muscle tightness) in people who have Multiple Sclerosis. Dry needling involves using tiny needles, like those in acupuncture, to target some muscles, like calf muscles. It differs from traditional acupuncture as it focuses on treating or managing muscle spots, aiming to reduce muscle stiffness and pain. Dry needling may offer a minimally-invasive and medication-free approach to improve muscle spasticity. The investigators hope to see if dry needling also helps enhance balance and walking abilities. This might provide potential improvements inoverall mobility and balance.
Interventions
DEVICEDry needling
The dry needling technique will employ in the current proposed study follows the standard technique for needling patients with spasticity
DEVICESham dry needling
In the control group, The investigators will use the methods proposed by Cushman et al. to apply sham dry needling (DN) to our participants
Sponsors
University of Kansas Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 64 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18 to 64 years * Clinical diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis based on the McDonald Criteria * Spasticity in their lower legs * Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) score of 5 or below
Exclusion criteria
* Inability to communicate effectively with study personnel * Needle phobia * Severe varicose veins * Presence of an active implanted device * Pregnancy * Any active cancer or history within 1 year * known or suspected infection at the site of needling or in the surrounding area * Presence of a fixed plantarflexion contracture at the ankle * Acute fracture of dislocation in the region (bilateral lower extremity) * Deep vein thrombosis or peripheral vascular disease * Thrombophlebitis, or active osteomyelitis in the region (bilateral lower extremity) * Any medication changes, including antispastic medicines, for the past three months.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Spasticity | 5 weeks | Spasticity will be assessed through the Modified Ashworth scale (Scored between 0 to 4, with higher scores show higher level of spasticity) |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactAbbas TABATABAEI, PhD
Outcome results
None listed