Table 1.
Characteristics of all participants (analyzed, n = 41), the needle manipulation group (n = 21) and the no needle manipulation group (n = 20)
| Variables | All | Needle Manipulation | No Needle Manipulation |
p value Between Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 38.9 ± 15.5 | 37.7 ± 14.1 | 40.3 ± 17.2 | 0.601 |
| Gender (female) | 76% | 62% | 90% | 0.067 |
| BMI | 26.9 ± 5.7 | 26.2 ± 6.2 | 27.7 ± 5.2 | 0.431 |
| Painful side (bilateral/right/left) | 28/7/6 | 15/2/4 | 13/5/2 | 0.355 |
| Testing side (right/left) | 25/16 | 13/8 | 12/8 | 0.577 |
| Onset of pain (traumatic/gradual) | 9/32 | 6/15 | 3/17 | 0.454 |
| Duration of pain (weeks) | 324.3 ± 326.1 | 242.7 ± 250.3 | 410.0 ± 378.0 | 0.101 |
| NPRS (0–10) | ||||
| Current | 3.7 ± 2.0 | 3.5 ± 1.7 | 3.9 ± 2.2 | 0.577 |
| Worst | 5.4 ± 2.1 | 5.5 ± 1.7 | 5.3 ± 2.6 | 0.716 |
| Least | 2.1 ± 2.2 | 2.0 ± 2.2 | 2.2 ± 2.2 | 0.827 |
| Average | 3.7 ± 1.8 | 3.7 ± 1.6 | 3.8 ± 2.1 | 0.879 |
| ODI (%) | 20.9 ± 11.6 | 21.0 ± 12.3 | 20.8 ± 11.0 | 0.967 |
| Normalized EMG Amplitude (%MVIC) | 53.7 ± 30.7 | 55.8 ± 29.0 | 51.4 ± 33.0 | 0.650 |
| PPT (kPa) | 383.4 ± 185.5 | 377.3 ± 170.0 | 389.9 ± 204.9 | 0.830 |
BMI = Body mass index, NPRS = Numerical Pain Rating Scale, ODI = Oswestry Disability Index, EMG = Electrographic, MVIC = maximal isometric voluntary contraction, PPT = pressure pain threshold.