Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction on Measures of Sympathetic Outflow and Flexibility
Low Back Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Low Back Pain focused on measuring low back pain, dry needling, flexibility, sympathetic nervous system
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Low Back Pain
- decreased flexibility greater than or equal to 15 degrees of at least one hamstring, as measured by KE
- Age 18-70 years
Exclusion Criteria:
- Local skin lesion, local or systemic infection
- Previous treatment of DN to any body part
- History of abnormal bleeding
- Presence of radicular symptoms
- Prescription anticoagulant therapy
- Autoimmune disease, central nervous system disorder, or diabetes
- Previous surgery to lumbar spine
- Inability to read and understand English, or cognitive impairment that would limit the ability to give consent.
- Pregnancy
- BMI greater than 30 kg/m2
Sites / Locations
- Sports and Orthopaedic Therapy Services, LLC
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Dry Needling Group
Sham Needling Group
Dry needles will be sterile, and 0.30 x 60mm in gauge and length. Needles will be placed using an inferomedial approach with the subject positioned in prone. The needle is inserted perpendicular to the skin and then is guided inferiorly and medially until it reaches the lamina. Needles will be manipulated in a "pistoning" fashion for 15 seconds.
Non-penetrating needles were constructed by cutting 100mm needles where the handle meets the shaft, and sanding down any rough edges. Guide tubes from 40mm needles will be used. These needles will be place in the same location and manipulated in the same fashion as in the dry needling group, except the needles will not have penetrated the skin.