Dry Needling for Cervicogenic Headache

NCT ID: NCT04305223

Last Updated: 2020-05-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 7 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-02-12
• Study Completion Date: 2020-04-01

Brief Summary

This is a single-blinded randomized clinical trial. The primary aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of dry needling of myofascial trigger points in the muscles of the head and cervical spine in addition to an upper extremity strengthening/stretching exercise program compared to a dry needling group alone on pain scores, cervical range of motion, pain sensitivity and changes in severity and frequency of pain symptoms in individuals with cervicogenic headache.

Detailed Description

This is a single-blinded randomized clinical trial. Eligible participants who agree to enroll in the study will be asked to attend four testing sessions. Participants in both groups will receive dry needling to the involved head and cervical muscles and the other group, in addition to receiving a dry needling intervention, will be instructed in a standard home exercise program consisting of strengthening and stretching exercises for the upper quarter. All dry needling (using standard clean technique) will be performed by licensed physical therapists board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy and having a minimum of 5 years of experience treating patient populations with dry needling.

The aim of this research study is to compare he effectiveness of dry needling alone with dry needling and a home exercise program on pain, pain sensitivity, cervical range of motion, and changes in the severity and frequency among individuals with headache symptoms.

Conditions

Headache; Cervicogenic Headache

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Dry needling and upper extremity stretching program Arm

Participants will receive a combination of dry needling and upper extremity stretching.

• Dry needling in regions of the head and cervical spine will be positioned supine, sidelying or prone with the relevant myofascial trigger points treated using a Seirin L- type 30 mm needle (Seirin America, Inc., Weymouth, MA). The needle will be inserted to a depth no greater than three-quarters length of the needle for 30 seconds using a vertical pistoning technique and then statically up to 5 minutes.
• A standard home exercise program consisting of strengthening and stretching exercises for the upper quarter.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dry Needling

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Dry Needling is a treatment technique whereby a sterile, single-use, fine filament needle is inserted into the muscle to assist with decreasing pain and improving function through the release of myofascial trigger points (knots in the muscle).

Upper extremity stretching program

Intervention Type: OTHER

A standard home exercise program consisting of strengthening and stretching exercises for the upper quarter

Dry Needling Arm

Dry needling in regions of the head and cervical spine will be positioned supine, sidelying or prone with the relevant myofascial trigger points treated using a Seirin L- type 30 mm needle (Seirin American, Inc., Weymouth, MA). The needle will be inserted to a depth no greater than three-quarters length of the needle for 30 seconds using a vertical pistoning technique and then statically up to 5 minutes.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Dry Needling

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Dry Needling is a treatment technique whereby a sterile, single-use, fine filament needle is inserted into the muscle to assist with decreasing pain and improving function through the release of myofascial trigger points (knots in the muscle).

Interventions

Dry Needling

Dry Needling is a treatment technique whereby a sterile, single-use, fine filament needle is inserted into the muscle to assist with decreasing pain and improving function through the release of myofascial trigger points (knots in the muscle).

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Upper extremity stretching program

A standard home exercise program consisting of strengthening and stretching exercises for the upper quarter

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Myofascial trigger point dry needling; Intramuscular stimulation

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Unilateral headache (HA) without side shift
• H/o pain triggered by neck movement
• Limitation in cervical range of motion
• Ispilateral neck, shoulder or arm pain
• Intermittent pain with episodes varying in duration
• Head and neck pain is non-throbbing in nature

Exclusion Criteria

• Use of anti-coagulation medicine (except low dose aspirin)
• Pregnancy
• Acute or uncontrolled medical illness
• Opioid use within six months
• Fibromyalgia or diffuse painful syndromes in the UE or LE
• Substance abuse
• Presence of fever, vomiting or visual changes

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Emory University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kathleen Geist

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Kathleen Geist, PT, DPT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Emory University

Locations

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

IRB00114985

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id