Recruiting

Physiotherapy

Sponsor:

University of Alberta

Code:

NCT06845969

Conditions

Dry Needling

Physiotherapy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Education: dry needling theory

Education: Cadaver anatomy review

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the addition of cadaver review improves:

  • the accuracy of physiotherapists who practice dry needling.
  • the perceived safety of dry needling by physiotherapists. Researchers will compare the effects of an anatomy review using cadaver material to that of an educational intervention not related to anatomy to see if the anatomy review improves the needling accuracy and safety of physiotherapist who practice dry needling as compared to the control intervention of education not related to anatomy.

Participants will:

  • Needle three muscles related to safety and/or accuracy using ultrasound imaging to gather accuracy and safety measurements.
  • Take an initial knowledge exam capturing their knowledge on needling safety.
  • Be randomized into a control group or intervention group.
  • The control group will receive an online educational session not related to anatomy.
  • The intervention group will receive a cadaver anatomy review class focused on high-risk area.
  • Re-take a knowledge exam after their course (either cadaver lab or on-line education) to capture any change.
  • Needle the same three muscles again using ultrasound to capture accuracy and safety measurements.

If reviewing anatomy using cadaver materials improve physiotherapists needling accuracy and safety, then this educational intervention could be recommended to be added to dry needling course instruction.

Conditions

Dry Needling

Physiotherapy

Study ID

NCT06845969

Start date

Apr 10, 2025

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Mar 31, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Mar 31, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Physiotherapy volunteers: Physiotherapists who are in good standing with their regulatory College and licensed to practice dry needling.
  • Needling volunteers (those who will be needled) must be able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Physiotherapy volunteers: Physiotherapists who are not in good standing with their regulatory College or not licensed to practice dry needling or have taken a cadaver review class post-graduation from their entry to practice physiotherapy program.
  • Needling volunteers (those who will be needled): Anyone who posses any contraindications to dry needling or not within normal BMI measurements

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Prevention

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

sham comparator: Education: dry needling theory

A two hour on-line synchronous educational model focused on dry needling theory.

experimental: Education: Cadaver anatomy review

A two hour cadaver lab review course focused on high risk areas for dry needling.

Interventions

Education: dry needling theory

Education relating to the theory of dry needling by physiotherapists

Education: Cadaver anatomy review

Educational instruction regarding the safe implementation of dry needling by physiotherapists using cadaver material.

Primary outcome measure

  • Dry needling accuracy [ Time Frame: This measurement will be taken initially when the subject enrolls in the study (Baseline) and again within two weeks of having received the intervention (either control or experimental) (Follow-up). ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Nadine R Crocker, MScPT

7806907442nrrissli@ualberta.ca

Eric Parent, PhD

eparent@ualberta.ca

Locations

University of Alberta

Recruiting

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G2B7

Contacts

Nadine R Crocker, MScPT

780-690-7442nrissli@ualberta.ca

Eric Parent, PhD

eparent@ualberta.ca

Principal Investigator:

Nadine R Crocker, MScPT

More Information

Sponsor

University of Alberta

Last update posted

May 6, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Dry Needling
  • Safety
  • Accuracy
  • Physiotherapy

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Alberta on 2026-05-06.