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Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)NCT07148635

Electrical Dry Needling Versus Sham Dry Needling in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

A study testing Electrical Dry Needling (EDN) in people with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of electrical dry needling (EDN) compared to sham dry needling (SDN) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). CLBP is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with persistent pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 25 years
Conditions the study is for
Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)
What is being tested?
Electrical Dry Needling (EDN)
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
70 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
9 Apr 2025to 21 Aug 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Both male and female gender will be included (Fernández-Carnero, 2021).
  • Clinically diagnosed of chronic low back pain persisting for at least three months (Tüzün et al., 2017)
  • Identifiable active myofascial trigger points in the lower back muscles, confirmed through palpation or another standardized method (Donohoe, 2016).
  • Moderate to severe pain intensity, measured by a visual analog scale (VAS) (Tüzün et al., 2017)
  • Sufficient cognitive and physical ability to engage in assessments and interventions (Tüzün et al., 2017)

Who cannot join

  • Known hypersensitivity to needles, history of severe bleeding disorders, or any condition that contraindicates dry needling (Tüzün et al., 2017)
  • Use of other physical therapy interventions or dry needling treatments in the last three months for low back pain (Fernández-Carnero, 2021).
  • Presence of specific spinal conditions (e.g., disc herniation, spinal stenosis, fractures, or recent spinal surgeries) (Tüzün et al., 2017)
  • History of neurological conditions affecting movement, sensation, or pain perception, such as multiple sclerosis or peripheral neuropathy (Donohoe, 2016)
  • Pregnant women will be excluded due to potential risks associated with the interventions (Tüzün et al., 2017)
  • Unstable psychiatric conditions or active substance abuse that could interfere with participation or adherence to study procedures

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Pakistan1 site
  • The University of Lahore Teaching Hospital

    Lahore, 54590

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of electrical dry needling (EDN) compared to sham dry needling (SDN) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). CLBP is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with persistent pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are often implicated in CLBP and represent a key therapeutic target.

Dry needling is a minimally invasive procedure where fine needles are inserted into trigger points to release muscle tension and alleviate pain. Electrical dry needling is an advanced variation that applies low-frequency electrical stimulation through the inserted needles, potentially enhancing therapeutic effects. However, evidence is limited regarding its superiority over sham procedures.

Read more

In this randomized controlled trial, 70 adult participants with CLBP persisting for at least three months will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

Group A (EDN + Conventional Therapy): Patients will receive electrical dry needling at active MTrPs combined with a structured physiotherapy program.

Group B (SDN + Conventional Therapy): Patients will receive sham dry needling at the same anatomical sites (using superficial or blunt needle placement without penetration) alongside the same physiotherapy program.

Interventions will be delivered weekly for six weeks. Assessments will occur at baseline, third week, and sixth week.

Primary outcomes include:

Pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS)

Functional disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, RMDQ)

Kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, TSK)

This trial is designed to clarify the clinical value of EDN beyond placebo effects, providing evidence to guide management of CLBP.

Read the detailed description

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) affects approximately 7-8% of the global population and remains a leading cause of disability and healthcare burden. Conventional management strategies, including medication, manual therapy, and exercise, often provide partial or temporary relief. Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are highly prevalent in CLBP and contribute to persistent pain and movement restrictions.

Dry needling has emerged as a widely used intervention to deactivate MTrPs. The technique produces a local twitch response, improves blood flow, and reduces muscle tightness. Electrical dry needling (EDN) enhances this effect by delivering low-frequency electrical stimulation through the inserted needles, which may result in improved neuromuscular relaxation and pain modulation.

Despite encouraging findings from prior studies, the literature lacks rigorous trials comparing EDN with sham dry needling (SDN) controls. Sham procedures are critical to distinguish specific treatment effects from placebo or expectancy effects. This study aims to fill that gap.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial (parallel groups, single-blind).

Sample size: 70 patients (35 per group), aged 18-25 years, with CLBP >3 months and confirmed active MTrPs.

Recruitment site: Social Security Hospital, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore.

Duration: 9 months after approval.

Randomization: Lottery method.

Blinding: Single-blind (assessor unaware of treatment allocation).

Interventions:

Group A (EDN + Conventional Therapy): Weekly 30-45 min sessions for 6 weeks. EDN applied at quadratus lumborum, multifidus, and iliocostalis lumborum trigger points, with low-frequency electrical stimulation (2-10 Hz, 10-15 minutes). Physiotherapy includes core strengthening, stretching, posture education, and home-based exercises.

Group B (SDN + Conventional Therapy): Same physiotherapy protocol. Sham needling applied with superficial or blunt needles without tissue penetration; no electrical stimulation.

Outcome Measures:

Pain intensity (VAS)

Functional disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire)

Kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia)

Data Collection: Baseline, 3rd week, and 6th week.

Statistical Analysis: Data will be analyzed using SPSS v24. Descriptive statistics will summarize demographics. Normality will be tested (Shapiro-Wilk/Kolmogorov-Smirnov). Between- and within-group comparisons will be conducted using ANOVA for parametric data, or Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon tests for non-parametric data. Significance level set at p < 0.05.

Ethical Considerations:

The study has received Institutional Research Ethics Board (IREB) approval from the University of Lahore. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation will be ensured. Participants may withdraw at any time without penalty.

Potential Impact:

This study will provide high-quality evidence on the clinical effectiveness of EDN compared to SDN in CLBP patients. If successful, EDN may be integrated into physiotherapy practice as an evidence-based intervention for reducing pain, disability, and fear of movement in this population.

Being tested
Electrical Dry Needling (EDN), Sham Dry Needling (SDN)
Keywords
Electrical Dry Needling, Myofascial Trigger Points, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Kinesiophobia, Sham Dry Needling
Medical subject headings
Myofascial Pain Syndromes, Kinesiophobia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Electrical Dry Needling (EDN)Procedure or surgery

    Electrical dry needling will be performed at active myofascial trigger points in lumbar muscles (quadratus lumborum, multifidus, iliocostalis lumborum). Fine monofilament needles are inserted into trigger points and connected to a low-frequency stimulator (2-10 Hz) for 10-15 minutes per session. Treatment is delivered once weekly for six weeks by a trained physiotherapist. Participants will also receive standardized conventional physiotherapy including core strengthening, stretching, posture education, and a home-based exercise program.

  • Sham Dry Needling (SDN)Procedure or surgery

    Sham dry needling will be administered at the same anatomical sites as the experimental group, using superficial or blunt needle placement without penetration into muscle tissue and without electrical stimulation. Sessions are delivered once weekly for six weeks by a trained physiotherapist. Participants will also receive the same standardized conventional physiotherapy including core strengthening, stretching, posture education, and a home-based exercise program to maintain consistency with the experimental arm.

Study groups in NCT07148635
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Electrical Dry Needling with Conventional TherapyExperimentalParticipants will receive electrical dry needling (EDN) applied to active myofascial trigger points in lumbar muscles (quadratus lumborum, multifidus, iliocostalis lumborum) once weekly for six weeks. Fine monofilament needles will be inserted into trigger points and connected to a low-frequency electrical stimulator (2-10 Hz) for 10-15 minutes per session. In addition, participants will follow a standardized physiotherapy program including core strengthening, lumbar and hamstring stretching, posture education, and a home-based exercise plan.
Receives: Procedure: Electrical Dry Needling (EDN)
Sham Dry Needling with Conventional TherapyPlacebo comparatorParticipants will receive sham dry needling (SDN) once weekly for six weeks. Needles will be applied superficially or with blunt instruments at the same anatomical points as the experimental arm, but without penetration into muscle tissue and without electrical stimulation. Alongside SDN, participants will receive the same standardized physiotherapy program as the experimental group, including core strengthening, stretching, posture education, and a home-based exercise plan.
Receives: Procedure: Sham Dry Needling (SDN)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Pain Intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS)

    Pain will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "worst imaginable pain." This provides a validated, subjective measure of current pain intensity.

    Measured: Baseline, 3rd week, and 6th week

  2. Functional Disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, RMDQ)

    Functional disability will be evaluated using the 24-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater disability and functional limitations due to low back pain.

    Measured: Baseline, 3rd week, and 6th week

  3. Kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, TSK)

    Fear of movement will be measured using the 17-item Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK). Items are scored on a 4-point Likert scale (range 17-68), with higher scores indicating greater fear of movement and injury.

    Measured: Baseline, 3rd week, and 6th week

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Aug 2025
  2. Study start9 Apr 2025
  3. Primary completion11 Aug 2025
  4. Study completion21 Aug 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
70 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07148635
Sponsor's protocol ID
UOL/IREB/25/09/0026
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
23 Aug 2025
Last updated
29 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Tuzun EH, Gildir S, Angin E, Tecer BH, Dana KO, Malkoc M. Effectiveness of dry needling versus a classical physiotherapy program in patients with chronic low-back pain: a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. J Phys Ther Sci. 2017 Sep;29(9):1502-1509. doi: 10.1589/jpts.29.1502. Epub 2017 Sep 15.

    PubMed 28931976

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Electrical Dry Needling (EDN) in people with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), run by University of Lahore at 1 site in Pakistan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Pain Intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) (time frame: Baseline, 3rd week, and 6th week). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07148635, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Aug 2025.

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