Analysis of Dry Needling Combined With an Exercise Program in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Knee: Randomized Clinical Trial

Detailed Summary

Osteoarthrosis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the joints, knee OA is the most prevalent type, affecting 265 million people worldwide, more than 40% of adults over 45 years of age, being one of the greatest causes of disability, which leads to a decrease in the quality of life of those who suffer from it, and increased medical care and costs. Currently, clinical guidelines recommend physical exercise as the first line of treatment for knee OA. Reviews conducted in 2020 observe a low level of evidence regarding dry needling in subjects with OA, suggesting the need for future publications focused on this research problem. Popliteal muscle involvement is often underestimated in knee pain, however, some authors also suggest that the presence of trigger points in this muscle may represent a cause of diffuse knee pain. Active trigger points in the popliteus have been observed in 17% of people with symptomatic knee OA. This study aims to evaluate data resulting from pain, function, strength and range of motion, in subjects with OA, after being treated with a specific exercise program and dry needling technique in the popliteal muscle. The subjects will be recruited at a health centre in the city of Seville, and at the Physiotherapy department of the University of Seville. As this is research with people, the researcherse wanted to be especially attentive to the following ethical aspects: all participants will be informed of the objective of the project and will be asked for written informed consent, their wish not to participate or abandon the project will be respected and they will be guaranteed that the information obtained will be completely anonymous and for use exclusively for the purposes of the research. The informed consent to be given is based on the ethical principles set out in the World Medical Association's 1964 Declaration of Helsinki for medical research involving human subjects. Compliance with the rules of the General Health Law of 1986 and the Basic Law 41/2002 Regulating Patient Autonomy. 1\. General Objective To evaluate and compare the resulting data on pain, function, strength, and range of motion in subjects with knee OA after being treated with a specific exercise program; and treated with the same exercise program combined with dry needling technique in the popliteal muscle.

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