Objective

To investigate the short-term effects of dry needling (DN) on physical function, pain, and hip muscle strength in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA).

Design

A double-blind, placebo-control, randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Private practice physiotherapy clinic.

Participants

Patients with unilateral hip OA (N=45) were randomly allocated to a DN group, sham DN group, or control group.

Interventions

Patients in the DN and sham groups received 3 treatment sessions. Three active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) were treated in each session with DN or a sham needle procedure. The treatment was applied in active MTrPs of the iliopsoas, rectus femoris, tensor fasciae latae, and gluteus minimus muscles.

Main Outcome Measures

Physical function was assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) physical function subscale, the timed Up and Go test, and the 40-meter self-paced walk test. Intensity of hip pain related to physical function was evaluated using the visual analog scale and WOMAC pain subscale. The maximal isometric force of hip muscles was recorded with a handheld dynamometer.

Results

Significant group by time interactions were shown for physical function, pain, and hip muscle force variables. Post hoc tests revealed a significant reduction in hip pain and significant improvements in physical function and hip muscle strength in the DN group compared with the sham and control groups. The DN group showed within- and between-groups large effect sizes (d>0.8).

Conclusions

DN therapy in active MTrPs of the hip muscles reduced pain and improved hip muscle strength and physical function in patients with hip OA. DN in active MTrPs of the hip muscles should be considered for the management of hip OA.

中文翻译：

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干式针刺疗法对髋骨关节炎患者疼痛，髋部肌肉力量和身体功能的有效性：随机对照试验

客观的

调查干针（DN）对髋骨关节炎（OA）患者的身体功能，疼痛和臀部肌肉力量的短期影响。

设计

一项双盲，安慰剂对照，随机对照试验。

环境

私人执业理疗诊所。

参加者

单侧髋骨关节炎患者（N = 45）被随机分配至DN组，假DN组或对照组。

干预措施

DN和假手术组的患者接受了3次治疗。在每个疗程中使用DN或假针手术治疗三个活跃的肌筋膜触发点（MTrP）。该治疗方法适用于active肌，股直肌，筋膜张肌和臀小肌的活跃MTrP。

主要观察指标

身体机能通过西安大略大学和麦克马斯特大学（WOMAC）身体机能子量表，定时上下车测试以及40米自定步距步行测试进行评估。使用视觉模拟量表和WOMAC疼痛子量表评估了与身体功能相关的髋部疼痛的强度。用手持式测功机记录臀部肌肉的最大等轴测力。

结果

显着的按时间交互作用显示了身体机能，疼痛和臀部肌肉力量变量。事后测试显示，与假手术和对照组相比，DN组的髋关节疼痛明显减轻，身体功能和髋部肌肉力量显着改善。DN组显示组内和组间较大的效应值（d > 0.8）。

结论

髋部活动性MTrP中的DN治疗可减轻髋关节炎OA患者的疼痛并改善其臀部肌肉的强度和身体机能。髋骨OA的管理应考虑髋部活动MTrP中的DN。