Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01950338

Deep Dry Needling for the Management of Post-stroke Spasticity

Stroke is the leading cause of physical disability, particularly due to the presence of spasticity. Different needling techniques, including the use of Botulinum Toxin A are proposed for the management of spasticity. The presence of spasticity in the lower extremity implies several impairments for standing and walking inducing high disability. No study has investigated the effects of deep dry needling inserted into the targeted spastic musculature in patients with stroke. The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a single session of deep dry needling over the musculature of the leg on spasticity, widespread pressure pain sensitivity and plantar pressures (baropodometry) in individuals with chronic stroke. The investigators hypothesize that patients receiving a single session of dry needling would exhibit a greater reduction in spasticity and pressure sensitivity than those who will not receive the intervention.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Stroke Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Alcorcón, Madrid, 28922, Spain

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • First-ever unilateral stroke;
  • hemiplegia resulting from stroke;
  • unilateral equinovarus gait with independent walk;
  • able to ambulate without supporting devices.

Exclusion criteria

  • recurrent stroke;
  • previous treatment with nerve blocks, motor point injections with neurolytic agents for spasticity at any time, or with BTX-A in the previous 6 months
  • not independent in the basic activities of daily living
  • severe cognitive deficits;
  • progressive or severe neurologic diseases;
  • fear to needles;
  • any contraindication for dry needling, e.g., anticoagulants, infections, bleeding, or psychotic.

Treatment and study plan

dry needling

Other

Once the most painful spot is located within a palpable spastic taut band, the overlying skin is cleaned with alcohol. The needle will be inserted, penetrating the skin about 15-20mm, until the first local twitch response is obtained. Once the first local twitch response is obtained, the needle will be moved up and down (4 to 5 mm. vertical motions with no rotation) in the muscle at approximately 1Hz for 25-30 seconds.

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in spasticity before and after the intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and immediate after the inetrvention

    Spasticity in the affected ankle joint will be evaluated with the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS). The examiner passively will move the ankle in dorsal-flexion direction, back and forth at least 5 times and will evaluate the degree of resistance to the movement on a scale from 0-4. This outcome will take 1 minute approximately.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in pressure pain sensitivity before and after the intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and immediate after the inetrvention

    Pressure pain sensitivity will be bilaterally assessed with a mechanical pressure algometer (Pain Diagnosis and Treatment Inc, New York, USA) over the deltoid muscle, the second metacarpal and the tibialis anterior muscle to determine changes in widespread pressure sensitivity. This outcome will take 5 minute approximately.

  2. Changes in baropodometry outcomes before and after the intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and immediate after the inetrvention

    The following baropodometric data will be bilaterally collected from each patient: support surface (cm2), percentage of load (%) and force distribution (%) of both forefoot and rear foot. Additionally, we will also calculate mean and maximum pressure of each foot, affected and non-affected. This outcome will take 10 minutes approximately.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Other

Registry information

Official study title

CHANGES IN SPASTICITY, WIDESPREAD PRESSURE PAIN SENSITIVITY, AND BAROPODOMETRY AFTER DRY NEEDLING IN STROKE PATIENTS

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2013
Study completion
2013
First posted
Sep 25, 2013
Registry last updated
Oct 29, 2013

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.