Actively Recruiting
Treatment Validation for Myofascial Pain
Led by Ajay Wasan, MD, Msc · Updated on 2025-12-24
80
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
99 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
A
Ajay Wasan, MD, Msc
Lead Sponsor
N
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to see if a body test called the NUN biomarker can track changes in chronic low back pain after dry needling and predict who will feel better. This study is for adults with chronic low back pain from muscle pain (Myofacial Pain). The main questions are: * Does the biomarker drop when pain improves? * Can it predict who benefits most? * Do higher starting levels mean better results with real dry needling? Investigators will compare real and fake (sham) dry needling using ultrasound, muscle pressure tests, and pain reports before and after treatment.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Treatment Validation for Myofascial Pain
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 20 and 70 years
- Chronic low back pain lasting at least 3 months with a muscle pain component
- Average pain score greater than 3 out of 10, primarily in the lower back
- Chronic low back pain classified as categories I-III by Quebec Task Force, including axial pain or pain radiating beyond the knee without neurological signs
- No history of receiving dry needling treatment
- Have sought healthcare for low back pain at some point
You will not qualify if you...
- Back surgery within the past 6 months
- Active workers' compensation or legal claims related to pain
- Started any new pain treatments within 2 weeks before enrollment
- Any unstable systemic illness or condition interfering with the study
- Unable to walk
- Unable to complete questionnaires
- Currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Kauffman Medical Building
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Ajay Wasan, MD, MSc
CONTACT
K
Kunal Lohana, MPH
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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