Physiotherapy in the Reduction of Post-needling Soreness

NCT ID: NCT04695548

Last Updated: 2021-07-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-02-23
• Study Completion Date: 2021-06-30

Brief Summary

Dry needling is a minimally invasive technique which generates good results and neuromuscular benefits. Its application involves a highly prevalent effect called post-needling soreness. It is defined as a residual pain, located in the incision area, with a self-limiting period of 24-72 hours, as a result of a physiological process generated by the technique.

So far, different clinical trials have been carried out to measure the effectiveness of several techniques for reducing post-needling soreness, reaching positive results. However, no studies have been found with the aim of distinguish which method is more effective for this goal; therefore, it is clear the need to continue investigating on the subject and comparing these techniques among them.

Detailed Description

Main objective. To figure out if one of the four techniques (isometric, concentric, eccentric contraction exercise and analytic passive stretching) is more effective for reducing post- needling soreness immediately, at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours.

Objectives. To verify if there is a correlation between independent variables and post-needling soreness.

Study type. Non-blinded randomized clinical trial. Intervention. Dry needling on an active myofascial trigger point in superior trapezius, followed by one of the following treatments according to the specific group: 1) concentric contraction exercise, 2) isometric contraction exercise, 3) eccentric contraction exercise or 4) analytic passive stretching.

Conditions

Dry Needling; Soreness, Muscle; Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Concentric contraction exercise

After applying the dry needling technique to the upper trapezius muscle, the participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of raising the shoulder against the resistance of the elastic band, slowly and for 5 seconds

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Concentric contraction exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

The participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of raising the shoulder against the resistance of the elastic band, slowly and for 5 seconds

Isometric contraction exercise

After applying the dry needling technique to the upper trapezius muscle, the participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of raising the shoulder and maintaining the tension of the elastic band for 5 seconds

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Isometric contraction exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

The participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of raising the shoulder and maintaining the tension of the elastic band for 5 seconds

Eccentric contraction exercise

After applying the dry needling technique to the upper trapezius muscle, the participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of raising the shoulder against the resistance of the elastic band, slowly and for 5 seconds

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Eccentric contraction exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

The participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of asking the participant to lower their shoulder, against the resistance of the elastic band, in a slow and controlled manner for 5 seconds.

Analytic passive stretching.

After applying the dry needling technique to the upper trapezius muscle, the patient remains supine position. The analytical passive stretch of the upper trapezius will be performed only once, bringing the muscle to the limit of elastic tension perceived by the subject. The passive stretching technique will be held for 30 seconds.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Analytic passive stretching

Intervention Type: OTHER

The patient remains supine position. The analytical passive stretch of the upper trapezius will be performed only once, bringing the muscle to the limit of elastic tension perceived by the subject. The passive stretching technique will be held for 30 seconds.

Interventions

Concentric contraction exercise

The participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of raising the shoulder against the resistance of the elastic band, slowly and for 5 seconds

Intervention Type: OTHER

Isometric contraction exercise

The participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of raising the shoulder and maintaining the tension of the elastic band for 5 seconds

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eccentric contraction exercise

The participant will be placed in a standing position, with the shoulders positioned in the scapular plane. A medium stiffness Theraband elastic band will be placed between the participant's ipsilateral foot on the side on which the dry needling technique was applied and the acromio-clavicular joint on the same side.The exercise will consist of asking the participant to lower their shoulder, against the resistance of the elastic band, in a slow and controlled manner for 5 seconds.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Analytic passive stretching

The patient remains supine position. The analytical passive stretch of the upper trapezius will be performed only once, bringing the muscle to the limit of elastic tension perceived by the subject. The passive stretching technique will be held for 30 seconds.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Muscle concentric contraction; Muscle isometric contraction; Muscle eccentric contraction; Muscle passive stretching

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age between 18 and 65 years;
• Cervical pain.
• Presence of an active PGM in the upper trapezius muscle.

Exclusion Criteria

• Traumatic history in the cervical region;
• Inability to understand or perform the required exercises;
• Pregnancy in the first trimester;
• Altered state of coagulation;
• Immunosuppression status;
• State of alteration of sensitivity (e.g. central sensitization processes, fibromyalgia, etc.);
• Unavoidable fear of needles;
• Lack of knowledge about the use of the WhatsApp or Telegram messaging platform

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

Sponsors

University of Alcala

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos Martín

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Daniel Pecos-Martin, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Alcala University

Locations

Clinical University Physiotherapy and pain

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

Countries

Spain

Other Identifiers

CEIM/HU/2020/43

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id