Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain

NCT ID: NCT03787706

Last Updated: 2021-09-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-01-15
• Study Completion Date: 2021-09-01

Brief Summary

There is evidence suggesting that patients with mechanical neck pain exhibit higher activity of the superficial neck flexor muscles during the execution of the cranio-cervical flexion test. In addition, some studies have reported the presence of active trigger points in the neck flexor and extensor muscles. Since preliminary evidence suggests that trigger points can affect motor control behaviour, it is possible that management of these trigger points with dry needling could be effective for improving muscle activity during low-load activities, such as the cranio-cervical flexion test. Therefore, the aim of this study will be to investigate the effects on electromyographical activity, pressure pain thresholds and cervical range of motion after the application of dry needling over active TrPs in the upper trapezius muscle in patients with mechanical neck pain.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Dry needling

Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dry Needling

Intervention Type: OTHER

Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Manual Therapy

Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Manual Therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Interventions

Dry Needling

Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Intervention Type: OTHER

Manual Therapy

Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Generalized neck-shoulder pain with symptoms provoked by neck postures, neck movement, or palpation of the cervical musculature.

Exclusion Criteria

• whiplash injury;
• previous cervical or thoracic surgery;
• cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy;
• diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome;
• having undergone physical therapy in the previous 6 months;
• less than 18 or greater than 55 years of age
• fear to needles

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

César Fernández-de-las-Peñas

Director of Department

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas

Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

Countries

Spain

References

Rodriguez-Jimenez J, Ortega-Santiago R, Bonilla-Barba L, Falla D, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Florencio LL. Immediate Effects of Dry Needing or Manual Pressure Release of Upper Trapezius Trigger Points on Muscle Activity During the Craniocervical Flexion Test in People with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Pain Med. 2022 Sep 30;23(10):1717-1725. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnac034.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 35179608 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

URJC3010201812618

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id