NCT05882799

Ultrasound-guided vs. Blinded Dry Needling for Piriformis Syndrome

Ultrasound-guided vs. Blinded Dry Needling for Piriformis Syndrome: A Randomized Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Uskudar State Hospital · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus blinded dry needling for the treatment of piriformis syndrome.

Detailed description

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided versus blinded dry needling for the treatment of piriformis syndrome. Patients in both groups will receive three weekly sessions of dry needling performed by a single experienced physiatrist. The intervention will involve inserting a sterile acupuncture needle into the trigger points of the piriformis muscle and manipulating the needle to elicit a twitch response. Patients in the ultrasound-guided group will receive dry needling under real-time ultrasound guidance, while patients in the blinded group will receive dry needling without ultrasound guidance. Patients will be assessed before treatment, after treatment, after the third week, and after three months.

Conditions

• Piriformis Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Ultrasound-guided dry needling	Ultrasound-guided dry needling is a minimally invasive technique that involves inserting a sterile acupuncture needle into trigger points of a muscle while monitoring the needle's progress with real-time ultrasound imaging. In this technique, a trained practitioner visualizes the piriformis muscle and the surrounding structures using an ultrasound machine, and then inserts the needle through the skin and into the muscle tissue, guided by the ultrasound image.
PROCEDURE	Blinded dry needling	Blinded dry needling is a minimally invasive technique that involves inserting a sterile acupuncture needle into trigger points of a muscle without using real-time imaging guidance. In this technique, the practitioner relies solely on their palpation skills to locate the trigger points of the piriformis muscle and inserts the needle through the skin and into the muscle tissue.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-07-01
• Primary completion: 2023-12-01
• Completion: 2024-02-01
• First posted: 2023-05-31
• Last updated: 2023-05-31