Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2009 Dec 18;10:160. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-10-160.
Chronic whiplash is a common and costly problem. Sensory hypersensitivity is a feature of chronic whiplash that is associated with poor responsiveness to physical treatments such as exercise. Modalities such as dry-needling have shown some capacity to modulate sensory hypersensitivity, suggesting that when combined with advice and exercise, such an approach may be more effective in the management of chronic whiplash. The primary aim of this project is to investigate the effectiveness of dry-needling, advice and exercise for chronic whiplash.
METHOD/DESIGN: A double-blind randomised controlled trial will be conducted. 120 participants with chronic whiplash, grade II will be randomised to receive either 1) dry-needling, advice and exercise or 2) sham dry-needling, advice and exercise. All participants will receive an educational booklet on whiplash. Participants who are randomised to Group 1 will receive 6 treatments of combined dry-needling and exercise delivered in the first 3 weeks of the 6 week program, and 4 treatments of exercise only in the last 3 weeks of the program. Participants randomised to Group 2 will receive an identical protocol, except that a sham dry-needling technique will be used instead of dry-needling. The primary outcome measures are the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and participants' perceived recovery. Outcomes will be measured at 6, 12, 24 and 52 weeks after randomization by an assessor who is blind to the group allocation of the participants. In parallel, an economic analysis will be conducted.
This trial will utilise high quality trial methodologies in accordance with CONSORT guidelines. The successful completion of this trial will provide evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a combined treatment approach for the management of chronic whiplash.
ACTRN12609000470291.
慢性颈痛是一种常见且代价高昂的问题。感觉过敏是慢性颈痛的一个特征，与运动等物理治疗的反应不佳有关。干针等疗法已显示出调节感觉过敏的能力，这表明当与建议和运动相结合时，这种方法在慢性颈痛的管理中可能更有效。该项目的主要目的是研究干针、建议和运动对慢性颈痛的疗效。
方法/设计：将进行一项双盲随机对照试验。将 120 名慢性颈痛 II 级的参与者随机分为 1) 干针、建议和运动组或 2) 假干针、建议和运动组。所有参与者将收到一本关于颈痛的教育手册。随机分入第 1 组的参与者将在 6 周方案的前 3 周内接受 6 次联合干针和运动治疗，在方案的最后 3 周内仅接受 4 次运动治疗。随机分入第 2 组的参与者将接受相同的方案，但使用假干针技术代替干针。主要结局指标是颈痛残疾指数（NDI）和参与者的感知恢复情况。在随机分组后 6、12、24 和 52 周，由一名对参与者分组情况不知情的评估者进行评估。同时，将进行经济分析。
本试验将按照 CONSORT 指南采用高质量的试验方法。该试验的成功完成将为慢性颈痛管理中联合治疗方法的有效性和成本效益提供证据。
ACTRN12609000470291。
