Responsiveness of Minimal Clinically Important Change for the Persian Functional Rating Index in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari,Shiva Komesh,Soofia Naghdi,Zahra Fakhari,Parisa Alaei 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.1

Study Design: A prospective, within-group cohort study of 46 patients with chronic low-back pain (CLBP). Purpose: To assess the responsiveness of the Persian Functional Rating Index (PFRI) and to determine the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) of the PFRI in a cohort of patients with CLBP. Overview of Literature: The FRI is an instrument for assessing pain and disability in patients with low-back pain. No study so far has examined the responsiveness of the PFRI. Methods: Forty-six patients with CLBP with a mean age of 50.33±14.28 completed the PFRI, the Persian Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (PRMDQ), and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after 10 physiotherapy sessions. A Global Rating of Change Scale (GRCS) was completed after treatment. Results: The changes in PFRI scores were statistically significant using the paired t -test (p <0.001). The PFRI revealed high effect sizes (range, 0.93–1.82). The PFRI showed significant correlations with the VAS (0.86), the PRMDQ (0.66), and the GRCS (0.45). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for the PFRI was good (0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.95). The MCIC for PFRI was 10.63 points. Conclusions: The results supported the responsiveness of the PFRI in patients with CLBP and showed the amount of change in PFRI scores perceived as worthwhile by the patients.

Dry Needling for Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition of Quadriceps Femoris in Patients after Reconstruction of Anterior Cruciate Ligament: a Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Zarrin Milad,Nakhostin Ansari Noureddin,Naghdi Soofia,Hasson Scott,Forogh Bijan,Rezaee Mehdi 사단법인약침학회 2023 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.16 No.5

Background: Dry needling (DN) is recommended as a therapeutic modality for various neuromusculoskeletal disorders. No study has been performed on the impact of DN on arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This study protocol is aimed to investigate the impacts of DN on AMI of quadriceps femoris, corticomotor, and spinal reflex excitability in patients with ACLR. Methods: A double-blind, between-subject, randomized, controlled trial will be conducted to measure changes in AMI after DN. Twenty-four subjects with ACLR will be recruited to receive a DN or a sham DN, providing that they met the inclusion criteria. Three sessions of DN on the quadriceps femoris will be applied during a one-week period. The primary outcome measures are the active motor threshold, motor evoked potential, and Hmax – Mmax ratio. The secondary outcomes are the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee form questionnaire score and maximum quadriceps isometric torque. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the first session, after the third session, and at the one-month follow-up visit. Discussion: The results of this study will provide preliminary evidence regarding the effects of DN on AMI of quadriceps femoris in patients with ACLR.

Effects of Dry Needling on Connectivity of Corticospinal Tract, Spasticity, and Function of Upper Extremity in People with Stroke: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Ebrahimzadeh Masoome,Ansari Noureddin Nakhostin,Abdollahi Iraj,Akhbari Behnam,Monjezi Saeideh 사단법인약침학회 2021 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.14 No.6

Background: Spasticity is a common motor disorder in adult stroke patients. Injury to the corticospinal tract (CST) is associated with spasticity. Dry needling (DN) has positive impacts on spasticity reduction and improvement in the range of motion (ROM) in stroke patients. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of DN on the connectivity of the CST and the level of spasticity in adult stroke patients. Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial will enroll and randomly assign stroke patients to either the experimental group, for receiving three sessions of DN for the spastic wrist flexors, or the control group, for sham needling. The primary outcome measures will be diffusion tensor imaging and the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale score to assess CST connectivity and wrist flexor spasticity, respectively. The Box and Block Test and standard goniometry are the secondary outcome measures to assess hand dexterity and active and passive wrist ROM, respectively. Measurements will be taken both before and after the intervention. Discussion: The results of this study will provide important evidence of the effects of DN on CST connectivity, spasticity, and arm function in adult stroke patients.

A Clinical Trial Protocol to Compare the Effect of Dry Needling and Acupoint Dry Needling on Wrist Flexor Spasticity after Stroke

Najmeh Nazari,Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari,Soofia Naghdi,Pablo Herrero Gallego,Roshanak Honarpisheh 사단법인약침학회 2022 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.15 No.4

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults worldwide, with spasticity after stroke being one of the more common complications. Dry needling (DN) has been demonstrated to decrease spasticity in stroke patients, although its effects on improving function remain unclear. The purpose of this study protocol is to compare the short-term effects of DN versus acupoint DN on wrist flexor spasticity and upper extremity function in patients with stroke. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial will be conducted to include patients with stroke and upper extremity spasticity and functional disability. Twenty-four patients with stroke will be randomly assigned to either the DN or acupoint DN (DNap) group. These groups will receive three DN sessions during a one-week period of the wrist flexor muscles or at the LI4 & TE5 acupoints, respectively. The primary outcome measure is the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) of spasticity. The secondary outcomes are the Fugl–Meyer Assessment of motor function (FMA) and the goniometry to assess the active and passive range of motion of the wrist. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the end of three sessions DN, and at a one-week follow-up visit. Discussion: The results of this comparative study will help to determine the more effective method for reducing spasticity and improving motor function in patients with stroke.

A Study on the Effects of Dry Needling in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Spasticity: Protocol of a Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial

Omid Motamedzadeh,Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari,Soofia Naghdi,Amirreza Azimi,Ashraf Mahmoudzadeh,Sandra Calvo,Pablo Herrero 사단법인약침학회 2021 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.14 No.2

Background: Spasticity is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). Dry needling (DN) has been considered a useful method for the treatment of spasticity; however, there are no studies on the effects of DN on spasticity in patients with MS. We propose a study protocol aiming to investigate the effects of DN on spasticity in patients with MS. Methods: MS patients with plantar flexor spasticity will be recruited. Participants will be randomly assigned to the DN group, where they will be receiving a single session of DN, one minute for each head of gastrocnemius muscle, or to the waiting list control group with no intervention. Primary outcome measures are the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) for gastrocnemius spasticity, passive resistive torque, and podography for foot pressure distribution. The ankle active and passive range of dorsiflexion and Timed Up and Go tests are the secondary outcome measures. All outcomes will be measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and one week later. A mixed-model, general linear model, and two-way repeated-measures ANOVA will be used to compare the quantitative variables between groups and within groups at the measurement time points. The MAS ordinal measure of spasticity will be compared between groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and both the Friedman test and Wilcoxon test will be used for within-group changes. Discussion: This study will provide primary evidence on the effects of DN on gastrocnemius muscle spasticity and gait in patients with MS. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20190617043918N1.

A study on the immediate effects of plantar vibration on balance dysfunction in patients with stroke

Maede Khalifeloo,Soofia Naghdi,Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari,Mohammad Akbari,Shohreh Jalaie,Davood Jannat,Scott Hasson 한국운동재활학회 2018 JER Vol.14 No.2

The Effect of Ankle Muscles Dry Needling on Brain Activity Map Based on fMRI: a Study Protocol for Randomized Controlled Trial

Honarpishe Roshanak,Naghdi Soofia,Ansari Noureddin Nakhostin,Dommerholt Jan,Hassanabadi Marzieh 사단법인약침학회 2024 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.17 No.3

Importance: Neuromodulation may be one of the underlying mechanisms of dry needling (DN); however, the mechanism has not yet been fully clarified. Objective: This randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate DN stimulation of the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles in chronic ankle instability (CAI) and healthy subjects, employing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Design: Clinical study protocol, SPIRIT compliant. Setting: Brain Mapping Laboratory. Population: A total of thirty participants aged between 18 and 40 years old will be included in this study. Twenty healthy participants will be randomized into 2 groups (real DN and sham DN). Ten patients with CAI will also be recruited to the third group and receive only real DN for comparison. Exposures: Real and sham DN. Main Outcomes and Measures: The voxel count, coordinates of peak activation, and peak intensity will be obtained as primary outcomes to report brain map activation. Measurements will be taken before, during, and after DN treatment. The strength of the ankle dorsiflexors, active dorsiflexion range of motion, and McGill pain questionnaire short-form will be used as secondary outcome measures. Results: The results from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated as presentations at national and international congresses. Conclusion: This trial will explore brain responses to real and sham DN in healthy participants and to real DN in CAI patients. Overall, our results will provide preliminary evidence of the neural mechanism of DN.

Acute effects of one session dry needling on a chronic golfer’s elbow disability

Ardalan Shariat,Pardis Noormohammadpour,Amir Hossein Memari,Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari,Joshua A. Cleland,Ramin Kordi 한국운동재활학회 2018 JER Vol.14 No.1

A 40-year-old retired male elite athlete with more than 20 years’ experience in wrestling and bodybuilding with mild elbow pain and disability of 2 years presented to our clinic reporting an acute pain in medial aspect of the elbow. Physical examination revealed symptoms of left Golfer’s elbow during target-directed movements. The results of sonography in left elbow showed low level of hypo echo irregularity and increased blood flow in color Doppler mode in the common flexor origin. The pain amplitude was moderate at rest and extremely high during kinetic and intentional movements. During last 2 years, the patient tried different types of therapy including manual therapy, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and also received a variety of injections none of which were effective for reducing pain and disability. This is the first study showed that one sessions of dry needling improved both pain and disability and helped to return to a normal life and exercise training.