Effectiveness of Percutaneous Electrolysis and Dry Needling vs. Standard Therapy for Whiplash Syndrome

NCT06938425 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 16_23_FINER
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The main objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of two interventions (PIE vs DDN) in adult patients who have suffered a LCS after a traffic accident and comparing it with a standard physiotherapy program. As a secondary objective, the investigators will analyze the reduction of intrafibrillar blood flow and muscle elasticity perceived by the patient in the long term and the reduction of pain and disability appreciated by the patient. It is hypothesized as an alternative hypothesis that percutaneous electrolysis and/or deep dry needling intervention in combination with standard physiotherapy will give better clinical outcomes in patients with active trigger point LCS following a road traffic accident compared to the current standard physiotherapy intervention. The researchers will compare both invasive physical therapy techniques with standard treatment to see if these techniques are more effective in treating whiplash syndrome.

Conditions

Whiplash Injuries

Keywords

Percutaneous electrolysis; Dry needling; Whiplash; Myofascial pain syndrome; Myofascial trigger point; Intrafibrillar blood flow; elasticity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Intrafibrillar blood flow

  To assess intrafibrillar blood flow, the ultrasound tool is used, with color Doppler. the hypervascularity of small vessels in the inflamed synovial tissue of the structures is evaluated. Measurements are expressed in liters per minute (l/min).

  From the beginning of treatment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks and at 3 months

• Elasticity of muscle fibers

  Elastography is used to evaluate the elasticity of muscle fibers. It is a grayscale ultrasound technique that is superimposed on the color parametric image that expresses the rate of tissue deformation.Making it possible to express the stiffness and elasticity of the tissue in units of pressure (kilopascals).

  From the beginning of treatment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks and at 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Pain perceived by the patient

  From the beginning of treatment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks and at 3 months

• Pain perceived by the patient

  From the beginning of treatment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks and at 3 months

• Disability

  From the beginning of treatment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks and at 3 months

Study Arms (3)

standard physiotherapy treatment

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will receive standard physical therapy sessions, including manual techniques, massage therapy and mobility exercises.

Procedure: Standard physiotherapy

intratissue percutaneous electrolysis

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive physiotherapy sessions using the Percutaneous Intratisular Electrolysis (EPI) technique,

Other: intratissue percutaneous electrolysis

Deep Dry needling

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive physiotherapy sessions using the dry puncture technique applied to active trigger points.

Other: deep dry needling

Interventions

intratissue percutaneous electrolysis OTHER

Using fine needles guided by ultrasound to apply electrical stimulation directly to the affected tissue (for example, damaged muscles or tendons).

intratissue percutaneous electrolysis

deep dry needling OTHER

Insertion of fine needles into muscle trigger points (without injection of drugs) to relieve muscle pain and release tension.

Deep Dry needling

Standard physiotherapy PROCEDURE

It includes manual techniques such as therapeutic massage and mobilization, along with stretching and strengthening exercises to improve range of motion and reduce pain.

standard physiotherapy treatment

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Adults with whiplash syndrome following a traffic accident.
• Patients must reside or stay in the Autonomous Community of Melilla during the intervention phase.
• Subjects will have the presence of neck pain after suffering a traffic accident and the presence of at least one active trigger point in the sternocleidomastoid and/or levator scapulae muscles.
• All subjects who suffer a traffic accident and who have a score of 5 or higher on the numerical scale (EN) of pain assessment.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients undergoing anticoagulant treatment.
• Patients who have suffered previous cervical trauma or who have undergone surgery in the last year.
• Subjects who present some type of alteration (skin or infection, sensitivity or pain perception).
• Subjects with central or peripheral nervous system involvement.
• Patients who have problems with the material: allergy to metal, belonephobia (fear of needles).
• Pregnant women.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Camilo Jose Cela University: lead

Related Publications (1)

• Fernandez-Navarro R, Benito-de-Pedro M, Navarro Reyes FM, Moreno-Lopez J, Estebanez-Perez MJ, Pastora-Bernal JM. Intratissue percutaneous electrolysis and deep dry needling compared to a standard physiotherapy protocol in the treatment of whiplash syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Front Rehabil Sci. 2025 Nov 3;6:1670603. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2025.1670603. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 41255411 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Whiplash Injuries; Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neck Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• María Benito, PhD

  Associate Professor

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Rocío Fernández Navarro

CONTACT

+34667201750; rocio.fnavarro@alumno.ucjc.edu

José M. Pérez Ortiz, PhD

CONTACT

+34918153131; josemanuel.perez@ucjc.edu

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: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2025
• First Posted: April 22, 2025
• Study Start: November 30, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: November 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11