NCT06938425

Effectiveness of Percutaneous Electrolysis and Dry Needling vs. Standard Therapy for Whiplash Syndrome

Effectiveness of Intratissue Percutaneous Electrolysis and Deep Dry Needling Versus a Standard Physical Therapy Protocol in the Treatment of Whiplash Syndrome in the Short and Medium Term

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Camilo Jose Cela University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The main objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of two interventions (PIE vs DDN) in adult patients who have suffered a LCS after a traffic accident and comparing it with a standard physiotherapy program. As a secondary objective, the investigators will analyze the reduction of intrafibrillar blood flow and muscle elasticity perceived by the patient in the long term and the reduction of pain and disability appreciated by the patient. It is hypothesized as an alternative hypothesis that percutaneous electrolysis and/or deep dry needling intervention in combination with standard physiotherapy will give better clinical outcomes in patients with active trigger point LCS following a road traffic accident compared to the current standard physiotherapy intervention. The researchers will compare both invasive physical therapy techniques with standard treatment to see if these techniques are more effective in treating whiplash syndrome.

Detailed description

The present study primarily aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of two invasive physiotherapy techniques-percutaneous intratissue electrolysis (PIE) and deep dry needling (DDN)-combined with conventional physiotherapy, compared to a standard physiotherapy program in adult patients who have sustained a whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) following a motor vehicle accident. Whiplash injury is one of the most common musculoskeletal sequelae after traffic accidents, often leading to chronic pain and functional disability. The heterogeneity of clinical responses and the persistence of symptoms underscore the need for optimized therapeutic strategies supported by high-quality evidence. This prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT) will include three parallel intervention arms: Control group: standard physiotherapy based on therapeutic exercise and manual therapy techniques. Experimental group 1: standard physiotherapy + PIE intervention. Experimental group 2: standard physiotherapy + DDN intervention. The study population will consist of adult subjects diagnosed with WAD and the presence of active myofascial trigger points in the cervical musculature. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups, and interventions will be administered over a predetermined period, with follow-up assessments scheduled at both short- and long-term intervals. Secondary outcomes include: Changes in intrafibrillar blood flow Patient-reported muscle elasticity, Self-reported pain levels Functional disability The alternative hypothesis proposes that the application of invasive techniques (PIE or DDN) as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy will yield superior clinical outcomes in terms of pain reduction, functional improvement, and muscle parameter normalization when compared to standard physiotherapy alone. This study aims to generate robust scientific evidence regarding the comparative efficacy of these interventions and to inform clinical decision-making in the rehabilitative management of post-traumatic whiplash-associated disorders.

Conditions

• Whiplash Injuries

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	intratissue percutaneous electrolysis	Using fine needles guided by ultrasound to apply electrical stimulation directly to the affected tissue (for example, damaged muscles or tendons).
OTHER	deep dry needling	Insertion of fine needles into muscle trigger points (without injection of drugs) to relieve muscle pain and release tension.
PROCEDURE	Standard physiotherapy	It includes manual techniques such as therapeutic massage and mobilization, along with stretching and strengthening exercises to improve range of motion and reduce pain.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-30
• Primary completion: 2026-06-01
• Completion: 2026-09-01
• First posted: 2025-04-22
• Last updated: 2025-11-26