Evaluating Ultrasound Biomarker and Dry Needling for Adults with Chronic Low Back Muscle Pain

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating if a special body measurement called the NUN biomarker can track changes in chronic low back pain related to muscle pain myofascial pain and predict who will benefit most from dry needling treatment. The study focuses on adults aged 20 to 70 years with chronic low back pain and aims to compare real dry needling to a fake sham treatment. The trial will examine whether changes in the biomarker correlate with pain improvement and if higher starting biomarker levels mean better results with real dry needling. Participants will receive one session of either real dry needling or sham dry needling in a single-blinded setup, where the participant does not know which treatment they receive. The real dry needling uses a repeated tapping technique on painful muscle points, while the sham treatment presses the skin without needle penetration. Ultrasound imaging will measure the NUN biomarker before and one week after treatment. Muscle sensitivity tests and pain reports will also be collected before and after treatment to evaluate responses. During the study, participants will undergo ultrasound scans, pressure pain tests, and report their pain intensity and interference. The main outcome is the change in NUN biomarker levels one week after treatment, comparing real and sham groups. Secondary outcomes include average pain and pain interference measured three days after treatment. The study involves random assignment to treatment groups and lasts from the initial screening through one week post-treatment evaluations, with safety and response monitoring throughout.

Treatment Validation for Myofascial Pain