Dry needling as an intervention for low back pain
Dry needling focuses on the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and involves inserting needles into areas of muscle that are perceived to have motor abnormalities, in an attempt to relieve pain, reduce muscle tension and restore normal muscle function. This study suggests that dry needling is effective in individuals who experience pain with the MLT will have a 29% larger improvement in ODI score than individuals who don’t experience pain. Also pain not aggravated by standing is a predictive of improvement in ODI score.
The purpose of this study was to find out what associations may exist between demographic, patient history and physical examination variables and short-term improvement in self-reported disability following dry needling therapy on patients with LBP.
At first a standardized physical examination was performed including lumbosacral ROM, passive straight leg raise, hip range of motion, the prone instability test, the Multifidus lift test (MLT) and a segmental mobility assessment by applying a manual pressure in a posterior-anterior direction. The participants completed a Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure their LBP disability. All participants underwent a single dry needling session. At first the lumbar multifidus was palpated to in or exclude triggerpoints. The needles were directed into the lumbar multifidus with a 15 degree inferomedial angle to the depth of the lumbar lamina.
This study suggests that dry needling is effective in individuals who experience pain with the MLT will have a 29% larger improvement in ODI score than individuals who don’t experience pain. Also pain not aggravated by standing is a predictive of improvement in ODI score.
> From: Koppenhaver et al., J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 45 (2015) 604-612. All rights reserved to The Journal of Sports and Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Click here for the Pubmed summary.
