Ischemic Compression Compared With Dry Needling

NCT02301468 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2013/903
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to examine the effectiveness of DN versus IC on trigger points in the neck and shoulder region for reducing pain and improving functionality (primary outcome measures) and to investigate the effectiveness of DN versus IC for muscle strength, mobility and muscle tone (secondary outcome measures).

Conditions

Neck Pain; Shoulder Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in functionality assessment NDI (Neck Disability Index) & SPADI (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index)

  Questionnaires : NDI (Neck Disability Index) \& SPADI (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index)

  at baseline, one week after the end of the treatment sessions, at 3 months

• Pain assessment 0-10

  for 12 locations of trigger points (bilaterally for Upper Trapezius , Middle Trapezius; Splenius Cervicis , Levator Scapulae , Infraspinatus, Supraspinatus ) 12 locations of trigger points will be subject to pressure of 50N. For each point, the subject will have to rate the pain on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). Based on this rating, the 4 most painful points were selected for further evaluation.

  at baseline

• Change in Pain assessment

  Numeric rating scale Pressure Pain Treshold from the 4 most painful trigger points ( 4 (out of 12) trigger points with the highest NRS: see 2a.) Device: Digital Pressure Algometer (compuFET; Hoggan Health Industries, Inc, West Jordan, UT) For each of the 4 most painful trigger points, the threshold will be determined as the mean of 2 consecutive (30 s in between) measurements. The PPT is the force (N) needed to give the amount of pressure that causes a changeover from sensitivity to pain in the subject.

  at baseline, one week after the end of the treatment sessions, at 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Clinical examination of the neck and the shoulder: (no pain, little pain, much pain, Movement - no limitation, little limitation, very limited)

  at baseline

• Change in Muscle Strength Hand Held Dynamometer (CompuFet)

  at baseline, one week after the end of the treatment sessions, at 3 months

• Change in Mobility

  at baseline, one week after the end of the treatment sessions, at 3 months

• Change in Muscle Tone of the Trapezius muscle (bilaterally) Device: MyotonPro ®

  at baseline, one week after the end of the treatment sessions, at 3 months

Study Arms (2)

Dry needling

EXPERIMENTAL

Dry needling (experimental- physiotherapy intervention) - will be performed during 4 weeks (1 treatment/week) on the 4 most painful trigger points (determined/selected at the first session - see above). The same 4 trigger points will be treated during the 4 weeks. DN will be performed by locating the taut band and the trigger point. Once the trigger point is located, the overlying skin will be cleaned with alcohol. A certified and experienced therapist will penetrate the needle through the skin 10-15mm. into the TrP until the local twitch response will be obtained

Other: Dry Needling

Ischemic compression

EXPERIMENTAL

Ischemic compression (experimental - physiotherapy intervention) will be performed during 4 weeks (1 treatment/week) on the 4 most painful trigger points (determined/selected at the first session - see above). IC will be performed by applying a pressure with a wooden stick on the 4 individually determined most painful trigger points. The duration of the pressure will be about 60s, (increase of pressure 10N/s) until the highest tolerable pressure will be reached and this pressure will be held even when the pain is decreasing during the intervention. The subject will always be treated by the same clinician.

Other: Ischemic Compression

Interventions

Dry Needling OTHER

(experimental- physiotherapy intervention) - will be performed during 4 weeks (1 treatment/week) on the 4 most painful trigger points (determined/selected at the first session - see above). The same 4 trigger points will be treated during the 4 weeks. DN will be performed by locating the taut band and the trigger point. Once the trigger point is located, the overlying skin will be cleaned with alcohol. A certified and experienced therapist will penetrate the needle through the skin 10-15mm. into the TrP until the local twitch response will be obtained.

Dry needling

Ischemic Compression OTHER

(experimental - physiotherapy intervention) will be performed during 4 weeks (1 treatment/week) on the 4 most painful trigger points (determined/selected at the first session - see above). IC will be performed by applying a pressure with a wooden stick on the 4 individually determined most painful trigger points. The duration of the pressure will be about 60s, (increase of pressure 10N/s) until the highest tolerable pressure will be reached and this pressure will be held even when the pain is decreasing during the intervention. The subject will always be treated by the same clinician.

Ischemic compression

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Women aged between 18 and 65 years.
• Office workers working full time and performing at least 4 hours of computer work daily participated in this study
• \>15 on the Neck Disability Index (=NDI)
• Neck-shoulder pain related to trigger points

You may not qualify if:

• Following treatments for their complaints
• Systemic diseases
• Neurological symptoms
• Traumatic origin of the complaints
• Pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Ghent: lead

Related Publications (1)

• De Meulemeester KE, Castelein B, Coppieters I, Barbe T, Cools A, Cagnie B. Comparing Trigger Point Dry Needling and Manual Pressure Technique for the Management of Myofascial Neck/Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2017 Jan;40(1):11-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.10.008.

  PMID: 28017188 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain; Shoulder Pain

Interventions

Dry Needling; Acupressure

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Arthralgia; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Therapy, Soft Tissue; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Barbara Cagnie, PhD

  University Ghent

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 19, 2014
• First Posted: November 26, 2014
• Study Start: November 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2015
• Study Completion: May 1, 2015
• Last Updated: December 18, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-12