Knee Arthritis OsteoarthritisNCT07403448
Effects of 9 Points Electrical Dry Needling in Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing 9 points electrical dry needling and Standard physical therapy in people with Knee Arthritis Osteoarthritis, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The study will be conducted to compare effects of 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy and standard physical therapy alone in knee osteoarthritis patients. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Arthritis Osteoarthritis
- What is being tested?
- 9 points electrical dry needling and Standard physical therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 44 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 25 Jan 2026to 25 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- participants age group from 40-60 years
- Both male and female genders
- Knee osteoarthritis (OA) confirmed by radiographic evidence (Kellgren- Lawrence grade 3).
- Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) ≥ 4/10.
- Able to stand and bear weight on affected knee.
- WOMAC score > 25 moderate level of difficulty performing ADL
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- Participant with restricted range of motion
- Pain while walking and ascending stairs
- Patients volunteered to participate in the study and signed informed consent
Who cannot join
- Mild to severe knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 4).
- Recent knee surgery or injection (<6 months).
- Knee instability and ligamentous injury.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Patient with needle phobia and with history of abnormal reaction to needles.
- Diagnosed psychological disorders
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- Anticoagulant patient, tumors and hematomas.
- All acute emergencies and acute systematic fevers.
- Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital, Quetta
Quetta, Balochistan, 87900
Umair Baloch, MS-SPT, +923313768279, drumairsiddqui77@gmail.com
Malaika Imran, MS-OMPT
About this study
Official title: Effects of 9 Points Electrical Dry Needling on Pain, Range of Motion, Function and Quality of Life in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
The study will be conducted to compare effects of 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy and standard physical therapy alone in knee osteoarthritis patients.
- Conditions
- Knee Arthritis Osteoarthritis
- Being tested
- 9 points electrical dry needling, Standard physical therapy
- Keywords
- Arthritis, knee pain, Electrical dry needling, Grade 3 KOA, Functional limitations
- Medical subject headings
- Arthritis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
9 points electrical dry needlingOther
9 points electrical dry needling, stainless steel dry needles of size 0.25 into 30mm will be used, inserted perpendicularly into popliteus, adductor magnus, tibialis anterior, quad tendon, vastus lateralis, medialis, medial \& lateral infrapatellar sulcus, extensor digitorum longus.
Standard physical therapyOther
Standarized physical therapy: HOT pack for 5 min, hams \& quads stretching for 30 sec \& 6 reps, quads strengthening straight leg raise \& leg press will be performed 15 reps \& 3 sets, for hams seated leg curls \& gluteal bridges will be performed 15 reps \& 3 sets.
MWM in weight bearing position: The glide will be applied in weight bearing, effected knee on stepper, the therapist will be exactly sitting in front of the patient \& patient will be asked to place the limb up on the stepper one hand of the therapist has to be on the lateral side of the tibia and other hand on the medial side of the femur \& now the patient will be asked to climb, therapist will apply medial \& lateral pressure 10 reps \& 3 sets.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental : 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy | Experimental | 3 times per week for 6 weeks Receives: Other: 9 points electrical dry needling; Other: Standard physical therapy |
| active comparator: standard physical therapy | Active comparator | 3 times per week for6 weeks Receives: Other: Standard physical therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) measures subjective pain intensity using an 11-point numeric scale (0-10) where 0 = "no pain" and 10 = "worst pain imaginable". Patients verbally or mark on a horizontal line the whole number best reflecting current pain severity, typically assessing "current pain," "worst pain," "least pain," or "average pain" over the prior 24 hours. Mild pain = 1-3, moderate pain = 4-6, severe pain = 7-10 guides clinical decision-making.
changes in NPRS scale will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.
Measured: from enrollment to the end of 6 week
Goniometer measures joint range of motion (ROM)
Goniometer: Precision instrument measuring joint range of motion (ROM) in degrees using protractor body with two arms (stationary and movable) aligned to anatomical bony landmarks spanning the joint axis.
Primary Use: Quantifies active (AROM) and passive (PROM) joint excursion for objective baseline, progress tracking, and impairment rating. Universal goniometer most common; digital/smartphone apps offer improved reliability (ICC >0.9 vs 0.74-0.91 traditional).
Reliability: Long-arm > short-arm (MSD 6° vs 10°); inter/intra-rater ICC 0.84-0.99 with standardized technique.
changes in knee flexion and extension ROM will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.
Measured: from enrollment to the end of 6 week
WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index)
WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) is a validated, disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure for hip/knee osteoarthritis assessing pain (5 items, 0-20), stiffness (2 items, 0-8), and physical function (17 items, 0-68) over past 48 hours.
Scoring: Likert 0-4 scale per item (0=None, 4=Extreme); higher total scores (0-96) indicate worse symptoms. MCID: 12% improvement (~9-12 points) represents clinically meaningful change.
changes in WOMAC score will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.
Measured: from enrollment to the end of 6 week
EQ-5D 3L (QUALITY OF LIFE)
EQ-5D-3L is developed by EuroQol groups is standardized instrument for measurement of health-related quality of life. it administers strong test-retest reliability for knee OA which of 0.73 to 0.91.
Changes in EQ-5D 3L will be measured at baseline and at 6 weeks.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of 6 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Feb 2026
- Study start25 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionJun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion25 Jul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Knee Arthritis OsteoarthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Shakil ur Rehman, Ph.D, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07403448
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/24/0197
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 11 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of 9 Points Electrical Dry Needling on Pain, Range of Motion, Function and Quality of Life in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07403448
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/24/0197
- Conditions
- Knee Arthritis Osteoarthritis
- Keywords
- Arthritis, knee pain, Electrical dry needling, Grade 3 KOA, Functional limitations
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 25 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study will be conducted to compare effects of 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy and standard physical therapy alone in knee osteoarthritis patients.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental : 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy | Experimental | Other: 9 points electrical dry needling, Other: Standard physical therapy3 times per week for 6 weeks |
| active comparator: standard physical therapy | Active comparator | Other: Standard physical therapy3 times per week for6 weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- participants age group from 40-60 years
- Both male and female genders
- Knee osteoarthritis (OA) confirmed by radiographic evidence (Kellgren- Lawrence grade 3).
- Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) ≥ 4/10.
- Able to stand and bear weight on affected knee.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Mild to severe knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 4).
- Recent knee surgery or injection (<6 months).
- Knee instability and ligamentous injury.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Patient with needle phobia and with history of abnormal reaction to needles.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 9 points electrical dry needling9 points electrical dry needling, stainless steel dry needles of size 0.25 into 30mm will be used, inserted perpendicularly into popliteus, adductor magnus, tibialis anterior, quad tendon, vastus lateralis, medialis, medial \& lateral infrapatellar sulcus, extensor digitorum longus. | Other | Experimental : 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy |
| Standard physical therapyStandarized physical therapy: HOT pack for 5 min, hams \& quads stretching for 30 sec \& 6 reps, quads strengthening straight leg raise \& leg press will be performed 15 reps \& 3 sets, for hams seated leg curls \& gluteal bridges will be performed 15 reps \& 3 sets. MWM in weight bearing position: The glide will be applied in weight bearing, effected knee on stepper, the therapist will be exactly sitting in front of the patient \& patient will be asked to place the limb up on the stepper one hand of the therapist has to be on the lateral side of the tibia and other hand on the medial side of the femur \& now the patient will be asked to climb, therapist will apply medial \& lateral pressure 10 reps \& 3 sets. | Other | Experimental : 9 points electrical dry needling along with standard physical therapy, active comparator: standard physical therapy |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: from enrollment to the end of 6 week
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) measures subjective pain intensity using an 11-point numeric scale (0-10) where 0 = "no pain" and 10 = "worst pain imaginable". Patients verbally or mark on a horizontal line the whole number best reflecting current pain severity, typically assessing "current pain," "worst pain," "least pain," or "average pain" over the prior 24 hours. Mild pain = 1-3, moderate pain = 4-6, severe pain = 7-10 guides clinical decision-making. changes in NPRS scale will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.
Goniometer measures joint range of motion (ROM)
Time frame: from enrollment to the end of 6 week
Goniometer: Precision instrument measuring joint range of motion (ROM) in degrees using protractor body with two arms (stationary and movable) aligned to anatomical bony landmarks spanning the joint axis. Primary Use: Quantifies active (AROM) and passive (PROM) joint excursion for objective baseline, progress tracking, and impairment rating. Universal goniometer most common; digital/smartphone apps offer improved reliability (ICC >0.9 vs 0.74-0.91 traditional). Reliability: Long-arm > short-arm (MSD 6° vs 10°); inter/intra-rater ICC 0.84-0.99 with standardized technique. changes in knee flexion and extension ROM will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.
WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index)
Time frame: from enrollment to the end of 6 week
WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) is a validated, disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure for hip/knee osteoarthritis assessing pain (5 items, 0-20), stiffness (2 items, 0-8), and physical function (17 items, 0-68) over past 48 hours. Scoring: Likert 0-4 scale per item (0=None, 4=Extreme); higher total scores (0-96) indicate worse symptoms. MCID: 12% improvement (~9-12 points) represents clinically meaningful change. changes in WOMAC score will be measured baseline and at the end of 6 week.
EQ-5D 3L (QUALITY OF LIFE)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of 6 week
EQ-5D-3L is developed by EuroQol groups is standardized instrument for measurement of health-related quality of life. it administers strong test-retest reliability for knee OA which of 0.73 to 0.91. Changes in EQ-5D 3L will be measured at baseline and at 6 weeks.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Shakil ur Rehman, Ph.D principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 9 points electrical dry needling and Standard physical therapy in people with Knee Arthritis Osteoarthritis, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Imran Amjad, Ph.D (+923324390125, imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) (time frame: from enrollment to the end of 6 week). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Feb 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.