Virtual Reality in Invasive Techniques in Physiotherapy

NCT06448104 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 3250436
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Dry needling is a common physical therapy technique that uses solid acupuncture needles that are repeatedly inserted and removed into the human body. These techniques, despite their benefits, can cause pain. The objective of this study is to analyze the use of virtual reality as a distractor in invasive techniques in physiotherapy. The hypothesis is that the use of immersive virtual reality, evoking relaxation situations, will reduce the sensation of pain during and/or after the technique. To do this, healthy participants will be recruited and the participants will be divided into two groups (experimental and control). Participants in the experimental group will undergo the dry needling technique on latent myofascial trigger points along with the use of immersive virtual reality. The same technique will be performed on participants in the control group but without the use of virtual reality. Pain during and after puncture and strength after puncture will be evaluated.

Conditions

Pain

Keywords

pain; dry needling; virtual reality

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain during dry needling

  Pain perception during dry needling technique measured using a numerical pain rating scale (0-10)

  Immediately after technique application in each session (two sessions separated by two weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Pain after dry needling

  Immediately after technique application; 30 minutes after technique application; 1 hour after technique application; 6 hours after technique application; 24 hours after technique application in each session (two sessions separated by two weeks)

• Pain pressure threshold

  Before technique; Immediately after technique; 30 minutes after technique; 60 minutes after technique in each session (two sessions separated by two weeks)

• Strength

  Before technique; Immediately after technique in each session (two sessions separated by two weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Dry needling and immersive virtual reality

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to "Dry needling and immersive virtual reality" group will carry out a first session in which the dry needling technique will be performed together with immersive virtual reality and the results will be recorded. Likewise, after two weeks, these participants will repeat the dry needling session (with virtual reality) and evaluation, adding a previous exercise session.

Other: Dry needling and immersive virtual reality

Standard dry needling

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants assigned to "Standard dry needling" group will undergo a first session in which the dry needling technique will be performed and the results will be recorded. After two weeks, these participants will repeat the dry needling and evaluation session, in this case adding a previous exercise session.

Other: Dry needling

Interventions

Dry needling and immersive virtual reality OTHER

The study consists of two sessions, separated by a period of two weeks. In the first session, a dry needling procedure based on the Hong technique is performed on the main latent myofascial trigger point of the medial gastrocnemius, vastus medialis quadriceps or biceps femoris muscles. The procedure will be carried out simultaneously with the use of immersive virtual reality distraction software, applied through MetaQuest 2 virtual reality glasses. This procedure consists of immersive visualization (video and sound images that represent scenes related to relaxation). In the second session, the same procedure will be repeated, with the addition that the participants will perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions (12RM intensity) of the plantar flexion exercises prior to performing the dry needling technique. of ankle, knee extension or knee flexion (depending on the muscle evaluated) with the aim of stimulating the area to be evaluated, simulating post-exercise fatigue.

Dry needling and immersive virtual reality

Dry needling OTHER

The study consists of two sessions, separated by a period of two weeks. In the first session, a dry needling procedure based on the Hong technique is performed on the main latent myofascial trigger point of the medial gastrocnemius, vastus medialis quadriceps or biceps femoris muscles. In the second session, the same procedure will be repeated, with the addition that the participants will perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions (12RM intensity) of the plantar flexion exercises prior to performing the dry needling technique. of ankle, knee extension or knee flexion (depending on the muscle evaluated) with the aim of stimulating the area to be evaluated, simulating post-exercise fatigue.

Standard dry needling

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Have at least one identifiable latent myofascial trigger point in the muscles studied

You may not qualify if:

• Suffer any musculoskeletal or neural alteration that could alter the results obtained
• Suffer from belonephobia or extreme and uncontrollable fear of sharp objects

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Valencia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia

Valencia, Valencia, 46020, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain

Interventions

Dry Needling

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Officials

• Rodrigo Martín-San Agustín, PhD

  University of Valencia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 31, 2024
• First Posted: June 7, 2024
• Study Start: September 3, 2024
• Primary Completion: February 6, 2025
• Study Completion: February 6, 2025
• Last Updated: May 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)