Immediate Stiffness Changes in Myofascial Trigger Points After Dry Needling

NCT04832074 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CamiloJcU21
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) is considered as a useful tool for quantifying muscle stiffness. Considering that Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrP) are defined as "hyperirritable zones in contracted bands of muscle, thought to be caused by muscle overload or stress" and the effectiveness of dry needling applied to active MTrP for reducing pain and disability, the aim of this study is to assess the effects of sham and real dry needling, applied to active MTrP in the upper trapezius muscle in patients with chronic neck pain, on the muscle stiffness in two areas: 1) the most symptomatic area and 2) a control point.

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndrome; Neck Pain; Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• SWE - Young modulus

  KPa

  Baseline

• SWE - Young modulus

  KPa

  10 minutes

• SWE - Local shear wave speed

  m/s

  Baseline

• SWE - Local shear wave speed

  m/s

  10 minutes

• Pain Pressure Thresholds

  kg/cm2

  Baseline

• Pain Pressure Thresholds

  kg/cm2

  10 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Visual Analogue Scale

  Baseline

• Neck Disability Index

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Dry Needling

EXPERIMENTAL

Dry needling will be performed with 'solid filiform needles'. The procedure is as follows: The participant will lie in the prone position. The overlying skin will be cleaned with antiseptic spray. The taut band and MTrP, will be localized manually. After measuring the Pain Pressure Thresholds in this location and the control (located 3 cm lateral to the MTrP), the needle within its plastic guide tube will be placed over the MTrP. After a tapping movement to insert the needle, the needle will be moved to the muscle around the bundle and moved forward and backward to the tissue to elicit a small muscle twitch. After eliciting LTR, needling will be stopped. If no twitch were elicited, needling will stopped after two or three stellate movements

Other: Dry Needling

Sham Dry Needling

SHAM COMPARATOR

The same approach will be used with the exception of piercing the skin. The guide tube will press against the tissue and the sham needle will be allowed to drop against the skin. The handle will be tapped briskly but not breaking the skin. The sham needle will stay within the guide tube and will be pressed against the skin twice so as to mimic the quick "in and out" technique.

Other: Sham Dry Needling

Interventions

Dry Needling OTHER

Real Dry Needling in the most active Myofascial Trigger Point

Dry Needling

Sham Dry Needling OTHER

Sham Dry Needling in the same location, but not piercing the skin

Sham Dry Needling

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Patients between 18 and 65 and
• Presence of mechanical neck pain for at least three months duration
• Presence of at least one active MTrP in the Upper Trapezius muscle

You may not qualify if:

• Neck pain of traumatic origin (such as whiplash-associated disorder)
• Current use of any kind of analgesic therapy
• Presenting any condition usually considered a perpetuating factor of MTrPs, such as fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, or iron deficiencies
• Presenting any contraindication for Dry Needling application
• Neuropathies (e.g., radiculopathy)
• Bilateral Pain

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Camilo Jose Cela University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Francisco de Vitoria University

Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, 28223, Spain

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Valera-Calero JA, Sanchez-Jorge S, Buffet-Garcia J, Varol U, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Alvarez-Gonzalez J. Changes in stiffness at active myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius after dry needling in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2023 Jun;41(3):121-129. doi: 10.1177/09645284221104831. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

  PMID: 35765779 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Neck Pain

Interventions

Dry Needling

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Officials

• Juan Antonio Valera-Calero, PhD

  Camilo José Cela University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2021
• First Posted: April 5, 2021
• Study Start: May 5, 2021
• Primary Completion: May 18, 2021
• Study Completion: May 19, 2021
• Last Updated: February 22, 2022

Record last verified: 2021-05

Locations

ES (1)