NCT03605563

Brief Summary

Lateral epicondylitis, also called tennis elbow, is the most common disease in elbow-pain symptoms. The symptoms can have a major impact on the patient's activity of daily life, including turning a doorknob, lifting a full coffee cup to mouth, or wringing out a dish rag. This is a randomized study, the investigators will evaluate the immediate, short-term, and long-term effect of Fu's subcutaneous needling on the patients suffering with lateral epicondylitis.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
90

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started May 2018

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2018

Completed
3 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 18, 2018

Completed
12 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 30, 2018

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 28, 2019

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 28, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

July 30, 2018

Status Verified

July 1, 2018

Enrollment Period

10 months

First QC Date

July 18, 2018

Last Update Submit

July 26, 2018

Conditions

Keywords

Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN)Myofascial trigger point

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Visual Analog Scales

    The visual analogue scale or visual analog scale (VAS) is a psychometric response scale which can be used in questionnaires. It is a measurement instrument for subjective characteristics or attitudes that cannot be directly measured. When responding to a VAS item, respondents specify their level of agreement to a statement by indicating a position along a continuous line between two end-points.

    1 day

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Pressure Pain Threshold

    1 day

  • Myotone of MTrPs

    1 day

  • Pain-free grip test

    1day

Study Arms (2)

FSN: Fu's subcutaneous needling

EXPERIMENTAL

In this arm, the subjects will receive the intervention of FSN on Day1, Day2 and Day4, in total 3 treatments and will be arrange to take efficacy two assessment on Day8 and Day15, separately.

Procedure: Fu's subcutaneous needling

TENS: Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In this arm, the subjects will receive the intervention of TENS on Day1, Day2 and Day4, in total 3 treatments and will be arrange to take efficacy two assessment on Day8 and Day15, separately.

Procedure: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Interventions

Fu's Subcutaneous Needle (FSN), is an innovation for the treatment of myofascial pain and trigger points. The needle is a non-injection needle, and the fact that both needles are manipulated and act on soft connective tissue. FSN abstains from the muscle and deep fascia layers and is confined to only the subcutaneous layer where collagen fibers are most abundant. As the subcutaneous layer is poorly innervated, pain is less than other needling therapies. FSN is also currently being used successfully to treat non-musculoskeletal conditions.

FSN: Fu's subcutaneous needling

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS or TNS) is the use of electric current produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. TENS, by definition, covers the complete range of transcutaneously applied currents used for nerve excitation although the term is often used with a more restrictive intent, namely to describe the kind of pulses produced by portable stimulators used to treat pain. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes. A typical batteryoperated TENS unit is able to modulate pulse width, frequency and intensity. Generally TENS is applied at high frequency (\>50 Hz) with an intensity below motor contraction (sensory intensity) or low frequency (\<10 Hz) with an intensity that produces motor contraction.

TENS: Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • \. Subjects older than 20 years of age who can cooperate with the experimental volunteers.
  • \. Suffering from epicondylitis of the humerus for more than one month, and subjective pain intensity (VAS) greater than 5 points.
  • \. There is a local tender point at the upper elbow of the elbow, and the isometric resistance test of the forearm to make a spin will induce pain.
  • \. Under soft tissue ultrasound, the thickness of the common tendon of the extensor carpi muscles is more than 0.15 mm greater than that of the healthy side.

You may not qualify if:

  • \. There are contraindications to general treatment, such as serious medical problems, recent serious trauma, or pregnant women.
  • \. There has been a history of drug abuse (including excess alcohol) that affects pain assessors.
  • \. Have received neck, upper back, or upper and lower limb surgery. 4. People with central or peripheral nerve disease. 5. Cognitive impairment, unable to cooperate with the experimenter. 6. Patients currently receiving other treatments for epicondylitis of the humerus.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

China Medical University Hospital

Taichung, 999079, Taiwan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Huang CH, Lin CY, Sun MF, Fu Z, Chou LW. Efficacy of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling on Myofascial Trigger Points for Lateral Epicondylalgia: A Randomized Control Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Mar 14;2022:5951327. doi: 10.1155/2022/5951327. eCollection 2022.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tennis Elbow

Interventions

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Elbow TendinopathyTendinopathyMuscular DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesElbow InjuriesArm InjuriesWounds and InjuriesTendon Injuries

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Electric Stimulation TherapyTherapeuticsPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRehabilitationAnalgesiaAnesthesia and Analgesia

Study Officials

  • Li-Wei Chou, PhD

    China Medical University Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Li-Wei HuangChou, PhD

CONTACT

Ching-Hsuan Huang, MD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Minister of Rehabilitation

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 18, 2018

First Posted

July 30, 2018

Study Start

May 1, 2018

Primary Completion

February 28, 2019

Study Completion

April 28, 2019

Last Updated

July 30, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-07

Locations