Physiotherapy Dry Needling Accuracy
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Alberta
About this trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the addition of cadaver review improves:
* the accuracy of physiotherapists who practice dry needling. * the perceived safety of dry needling by physiotherapists. Researchers will compare the effects of an anatomy review using cadaver material to that of an educational intervention not related to anatomy to see if the anatomy review improves the needling accuracy and safety of physiotherapist who practice dry needling as compared to the control intervention of education not related to anatomy.
Participants will:
* Needle three muscles related to safety and/or accuracy using ultrasound imaging to gather accuracy and safety measurements. * Take an initial knowledge exam capturing their knowledge on needling safety. * Be randomized into a control group or intervention group. * The control group will receive an online educational session not related to anatomy. * The intervention group will receive a cadaver anatomy review class focused on high-risk area. * Re-take a knowledge exam after their course (either cadaver lab or on-line education) to capture any change. * Needle the same three muscles again using ultrasound to capture accuracy and safety measurements.
If reviewing anatomy using cadaver materials improve physiotherapists needling accuracy and safety, then this educational intervention could be recommended to be added to dry needling course instruction.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Physiotherapy volunteers: Physiotherapists who are in good standing with their regulatory College and licensed to practice dry needling.
Needling volunteers (those who will be needled) must be able to provide informed consent
Disqualifiers
Physiotherapy volunteers: Physiotherapists who are not in good standing with their regulatory College or not licensed to practice dry needling or have taken a cadaver review class post-graduation from their entry to practice physiotherapy program.
Needling volunteers (those who will be needled): Anyone who posses any contraindications to dry needling or not within normal BMI measurements
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Education: dry needling theory
Other interventionEducation relating to the theory of dry needling by physiotherapists
Education: Cadaver anatomy review
Other interventionEducational instruction regarding the safe implementation of dry needling by physiotherapists using cadaver material.
Treatment groups
60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Education: dry needling theorySham comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Education: Cadaver anatomy reviewExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Dry needling accuracy
The distance in millimeters between the end of the needle tip when the physiotherapist states that they believe that the needle is positioned mid-belly of the target tissue measured to the actual mid belly location of the target tissue.
Time frame
This measurement will be taken initially when the subject enrolls in the study (Baseline) and again within two weeks of having received the intervention (either control or experimental) (Follow-up).Secondary outcomes
1
Dry needling safety
A measurement in millimeters will be taken between the end of the needle tip when the physiotherapist has stated that they believe that the needle is positioned mid belly of the target muscle to any structure at risk (lungs, organs). The shortest distance to a structure at risk is recorded.
Time frame
This measurement will be taken initially when the subject enrolls in the study (Baseline) and again within two weeks of having received the intervention (either control or experimental) (Follow-up).2
Self-reported Confidence in needle placement
A self-reported perceived confidence that the needle was placed to mid-belly of the targetted muscle using a visual analague scale from 0 to 10 where 10 indicates best possible confidence.
Time frame
This measurement will be taken initially when the subject enrolls in the study (Baseline) and again within two weeks of having received the intervention (either control or experimental) (Follow-up).3
Knowledge exam score (anatomy)
Total score reported out of 100% related to the anatomy knowledge assessed using the parallel forms knowledge exams assessing the anatomy knowledge and the knowledge related to dry needling theory.
Time frame
This measurement will be taken initially when the subject enrolls in the study (Baseline) and again within two weeks of having received the intervention (either control or experimental) (Follow-up).4
Knowledge exam score (Dry Needling)
Total score reported out of 100% related to the dry needling knowledge assessed using the parallel forms knowledge exams assessing the anatomy knowledge and the knowledge related to dry needling theory.
Time frame
This measurement will be taken initially when the subject enrolls in the study (Baseline) and again within two weeks of having received the intervention (either control or experimental) (Follow-up).Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Source ClinicalTrials.gov