Dry Needling and Patients Treatment Expectations

NCT04636879 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CEI20/009
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Objectives The aim of this study is to compare the effects of inducing positive expectations against negative or neutral induced expectations on the activation of the Autonomic Nervous System and the analgesic response, after a dry needling technique in upper trapezius fibers in patients with unspecific neck pain. Summary Theoretical framework: Dry needling has proven its efficacy for the treatment of myofascial trigger points. Moreover, it has proven its effects over the Central Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Despite that previous studies have researched the role of patient's expectations and their relationship with the results of treatment, there is insufficient information concerning the effects of inducing expectations and the activation of the ANS during the application of widely used therapies, such as dry needling.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Dry Needling; Motivation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Skin conductance (µS).

  It is the measure of the variations in the electrical resistance of the skin, caused by the excitation of the sweat glands, controlled by the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

  Change from baseline at twenty minutes

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Heart rate variability

  Change from baseline at twenty minutes

• Pain intensity

  Change from baseline at twenty minutes

• Pressure pain threshold

  Change from baseline at twenty minutes.

Study Arms (3)

• Group 1. Positive expectation

EXPERIMENTAL

"Dry needling is a very effective tool used in the treatment of nonspecific neck pain, which we hope will reduce your neck pain."

Other: Positive expectation AND dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point

• Group 2. Neutral Expectation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

"Dry needling is an indicated tool used in the treatment of nonspecific neck pain, but its efficacy is unknown".

Other: Neutral expectation AND dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point

• Group 3. Negative Expectation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

"Dry needling is not a very effective treatment tool for nonspecific neck pain, so we expect your neck pain to increase a bit."

Other: Negative expectation AND dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point

Interventions

Positive expectation AND dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point OTHER

The subjects will received the same treatment, using dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point after receiving the corresponding message.

• Group 1. Positive expectation

Neutral expectation AND dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point OTHER

The subjects will received the same treatment, using dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point after receiving the corresponding

• Group 2. Neutral Expectation

Negative expectation AND dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point OTHER

The subjects will received the same treatment, using dry needling in the upper trapezius fibers, at the most painful point after receiving the corresponding

• Group 3. Negative Expectation

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Neck pain.
• Hiperalgesic point in Upper trapezius muscle.

You may not qualify if:

• Pain Irradiation toward upper limb
• Psychological disorders
• Whiplash.
• Neuropathic symptoms
• Cervical and / or Shoulder Spine Surgery

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alcala: lead

Study Sites (1)

Clinical University

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 2805, Spain

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain

Interventions

Dry Needling

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Officials

• Daniel Pecos-Martin, PhD

  Alcala University

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Daniel Pecos-Martín, PhD

CONTACT

+ 34 918855142; daniel.pecos@uah.es

Daniel Somkereki, Master

CONTACT

636869373; clinica.fisio@fgua.es

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD. Daniel Pecos Martín

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 15, 2020
• First Posted: November 19, 2020
• Study Start: February 23, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 5, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 5, 2026
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)