The relative effectiveness of intermittent percussion as opposed to dry needling in the treatment of myofascial trigger points of quadratus lumborum and gluteus medius muscles

Abstract

The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the relative effectiveness of intermittent percussion versus dry needling in patients with low back pain of quadratus lumborum and gluteus medius myofascial origin, in terms of objective and subjective clinical findings. The objective of the study is to evaluate if either of the two treatments are effective and which of the two has the greater effect. This randomized comparative clinical trial consisted of a sample size of thirty patients, all suffering from low back pain of quadratus lumborum and gluteus medius myofascial origin. Patients were obtained by consecutive sampling, whereby, any patient presenting to the Technikon Natal Chiropractic Day Clinic suffering from low back pain was carefully assessed. Only patients that conformed to the strict inclusion criteria were accepted into the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of fifteen patients each. Group A received dry needling and Group B received intermittent percussion performed on all the active trigger points of the quadratus lumborum and gluteus medius muscles. Each patient received five treatments over a four week period, followed by are-evaluation consultation one month after the last treatment to determine the long term effects of the treatments. Objective data was collected using the goniometer (BROM II) and the algometer (Wagner Force Dial FDK 20) while subjective data was collected from three questionnaires: the Numerical Rating Scale 101, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Data was collected at the beginning of the initial the final and the follow-up consultation