Dry Needling of Scalene Muscle Trigger Points in Mechanical Neck Pain

NCT03762252 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: URJC 2018-12-10
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

There is preliminary evidence suggesting that referred pain from active trigger points can play a relevant role in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Some studies have investigated the effectiveness of dry needling over the upper trapezius muscle in this population. However, other muscles, such as the scalene muscles, can be also relevant for neck pain symptoms. No study has investigated the effects of the application of dry needling over active trigger points in the scalenes muscles in a sample of patients with mechanical neck pain.

Conditions

Neck Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention

  A Numerical Pain Rate Scale (NPRS, 0-10) will be used to assess spontaneous neck pain intensity

  Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Changes in oxigen saturation with a pulse oximeter before and after the intervention

  Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention

• Changes in inspiratory vital capacity with an incentive spirometer before and after the intervention

  Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention

• Changes in neck-related disability with the Neck Disability Index before and after the intervention

  Baseline and 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Dry needling

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the scalene muscles

Other: Dry needling

Manual Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the scalene muscles

Other: Manual Therapy

Interventions

Dry needling OTHER

A solid filiform needle will be inserted over active trigger points in the scalene muscles for 30 seconds. The aim will be to elicit local twitch responses or the referred pain pattern of the scalene muscles.

Dry needling

Manual Therapy OTHER

The therapist will apply manual compression over active trigger points in the scalene muscles for 30 seconds

Manual Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

• 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 45 years of age
• fear to needles
• any respiratory disease, e.g., chronic brochitis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Rey Juan Carlos: lead

Study Sites (1)

César Fernández-de-las-Peñas

Alcorcón, Madrid, 28922, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Interventions

Dry Needling; Musculoskeletal Manipulations

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• César Fernández-de-las-Peñas

  Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director of Department

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2018
• First Posted: December 3, 2018
• Study Start: December 5, 2018
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2019
• Study Completion: July 1, 2019
• Last Updated: July 9, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-07

Locations

ES (1)