Can your therapist find your ribs by touch? study says ultrasound knows better
NCT ID NCT04066166
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study checked how accurately a practitioner can locate a rib by touch (palpation) compared to using ultrasound. 44 healthy adults took part. The goal was to see if palpation alone is reliable enough for dry needling of deep shoulder muscles. Results help guide safer practice.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help make dry needling safer and more accurate by showing when palpation alone is reliable.
- What could go wrong
- This was a small, completed study in healthy adults, so results may not apply to people with pain or other conditions.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
44 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2016
- Finished
-
Jul 2017
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
All healthy participants
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Anyone with ribs Exclusion Criteria: * No children
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Trigger point pain, myofascial are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a simple tape unlock relief from muscle pain?
- Baking soda boost: could a kitchen staple improve pain injections?
- Laser beats shockwave for neck pain in new study
- Hands-on techniques battle neck pain: which wins?
- Needle vs. pressure: which works better for knots in your back?
- New injection technique offers hope for stubborn neck pain sufferers