A pilot study examining the feasibility and effects of dry needling on pain during strength testing for individuals with bilateral patellofemoral pain and high kinesiophobia

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of a dry needling study on pain with peak torque testing in individuals with bilateral patellofemoral pain (PFP) and high kinesiophobia. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Hospital based outpatient orthopedics. Participants: Ten individuals [27.5 years old (SD: 5.6); 60 % female] with bilateral PFP greater than three months and high kinesiophobia (>37), based on Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, were recruited. Main outcome measures: Feasibility was measured by treatment fidelity and adverse events. Pain was measured via Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Effect size was measured using G∗power. Results: There were no severe adverse events and all participants included were able to complete the study in full. The effect size of dry needling on pain during peak quad torque testing was large (0.85). Conclusion: A larger scale study would be feasible to identify moderate to large effects as only 14 to 35 participants would be required to adequately power the study and dropout/attrition would likely be low.