Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain

NCT03787706 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: URJC3010201812618
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Keywords

Neck Pain; Trigger points; Dry needling; Cranio-cervical flexion test

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in electromyographic activity of the neck superficial flexor muscles before and after the intervention

  Bipolar surface EMG will be recorded with pairs of electrodes positioned 20mm apart and fixed firmly with an adhesive tape bilaterally over the sternocleidomastoid, the anterior scalene, the upper trapezius and the splenius capitis muscles.

  Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

Secondary Outcomes (3)

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

  Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

• Changes in widespread pressure pain sensitivity before and after the intervention

  Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

• Changes in cervical range of motion before and after the intervention

  Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

Study Arms (2)

Dry needling

EXPERIMENTAL

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

Other: Dry Needling

Manual Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Other: Manual Therapy

Interventions

Dry Needling OTHER

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

Dry needling

Manual Therapy OTHER

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

Manual Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 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 55 years of age
• fear to needles

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Rey Juan Carlos: lead

Study Sites (1)

Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas

Alcorcón, Madrid, 28921, Spain

Location

Related Publications (1)

• 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.

  PMID: 35179608 DERIVED

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 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: December 22, 2018
• First Posted: December 26, 2018
• Study Start: January 15, 2019
• Primary Completion: June 15, 2021
• Study Completion: September 1, 2021
• Last Updated: September 29, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-09

Locations

ES (1)