Dry needling, neuromuscular taping, therapeutic exercise, or all three in sequence, for older women with chronic lower-limb pain: effects on quality of life
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN26590288 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN26590288 |
| Sponsor | Faculty of Health Studies, University of Mostar |
| Funder | Investigator initiated and funded |
- Submission date
- 02/11/2026
- Registration date
- 03/11/2026
- Last edited
- 02/11/2026
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Signs and Symptoms
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Chronic pain in the hip, knee or ankle can limit daily activity and quality of life in older women. The study aimed to compare four physiotherapy programmes: dry needling, neuromuscular taping, a kinesitherapy programme, and the three given in that order. There was no untreated group. The main question was quality of life after 4 weeks. Pain, physical fitness, daily function and body measurements were also recorded.
Who can participate?
Women aged 60 years or older, retired and living in the community, who were members of the Centre for Healthy Ageing of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo and had lower-limb pain for more than 3 months that affected daily activity.
What does the study involve?
Each woman was allocated to one of the four programmes. Each programme comprised six sessions over 4 weeks. Quality of life was assessed before the first session and after the last session. Pain, a senior fitness test, daily function, vital signs and body composition were measured at the same two times.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
No benefit was promised. Needling can cause short-lived soreness, tape can irritate the skin, and exercise requires physical effort. Participation was voluntary, with written consent.
Where is the study run from?
The Centre for Healthy Ageing (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2022 to February 2022
Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded
Who is the main contact?
Edin Krupalija, edin.krupalija@gmail.com
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
Zrinskog Frankopana 34
Mostar
88000
Bosnia and Herzegovina
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-0806-432X |
|---|---|
| Phone | +387 (0)63031330 |
| edin.krupalija@gmail.com |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Allocation | Randomized controlled trial |
| Masking | Open (masking not used) |
| Control | Active |
| Assignment | Parallel |
| Purpose | Treatment |
| Scientific title | Effects of dry needling, neuromuscular taping, a kinesitherapy programme, and their sequential combination on quality of life in community-dwelling older women with chronic lower-limb pain: a four-arm randomised comparison |
| Study objectives | To compare dry needling, neuromuscular taping, a kinesitherapy programme, and their sequential combination on quality of life in older women with chronic lower-limb pain. There was no untreated or sham group. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 31/12/2021, Ethics Committee of the Centre for Healthy Ageing, Municipality of Novo Sarajevo (Azize Šaćirbegović 96, Sarajevo, 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina; +387 (0)61349554; edina@zdravostarenje.ba), ref: 43-P/21 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Chronic lower-limb pain in community-dwelling older women |
| Intervention | After written consent, 44 women were assigned to four groups of 11 by simple randomisation. A computer random-number generator produced the allocation sequence. Women were assigned one by one until each group contained 11 participants. There was no blocking or stratification. Allocation was not concealed. Participants, therapists and assessors were not blinded. 1. Dry needling: needles 30 × 0.3 mm or 40 × 0.3 mm into palpated active trigger points of the anterior and posterior hip and thigh. Needling of a muscle stopped after two local twitch responses. Only muscles with active trigger points were needled. 2. Neuromuscular taping: both lower limbs, 0% tension on pre-stretched skin. Hip: fan of four to six tails, 5–8 mm wide, base proximal. Quadriceps, hamstrings and calf: Y-tapes 2 cm wide. About 30 seconds of light manual activation. 3. Kinesitherapy: about 60 minutes, with warm-up, Senior Fitness Test-based strength, endurance, flexibility and agility activity, then cool-down. The protocol both lists practice of the 2-minute step test and a high-knee progression from 30 seconds × 2 sets to 60 seconds × 3 sets. Delivered content was not independently verified. 4. Sequential combination: the same three components, each scheduled six times. Planned order in a session was dry needling, then taping, then kinesitherapy. Six sessions over 4 weeks, about every 5 days, delivered by certified therapists. No untreated or sham group. Attendance and fidelity were not independently verified. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Completion date | 07/02/2022 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 60 Years |
| Upper age limit | 120 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 44 |
| Total final enrolment | 44 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Women aged 60 years or older 2. Retired and community-dwelling 3. Members of the Centre for Healthy Ageing of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo 4. Lower-limb pain for more than 3 months that affected daily activity 5. Written informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | Self-reported physician diagnosis of osteoarthritis of a lower-extremity joint |
| Date of first enrolment | 07/01/2022 |
| Date of final enrolment | 07/01/2022 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
Study participating centre
Sarajevo
71000
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
02/11/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the Ethics Committee of the Centre for Healthy Ageing, Municipality of Novo Sarajevo.
