Muscle Position and Dry Needling Efficacy

NCT07629141 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CEEI22/199
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Currently, no previous studies have investigated how the position of a muscle before dry needling may influence the outcome and effectiveness of the treatment. This study aims to demonstrate whether the position of the upper trapezius muscle during dry needling treatment influences the outcome of that treatment in subjects with neck pain. A total of 46 participants with chronic neck pain will be recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: a dry needling group with the muscle in a stretched position and a dry needling group with the muscle in a shortened position. A total of two treatment sessions will be performed, separated by a 7-day interval. The primary outcome measure will be the intensity of neck and head pain, measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). Other variables to be measured include the cervical disability index, kinesiophobia, and catastrophizing (using a self-completion questionnaire), as well as participants' expectations and post-needling pain.

Conditions

Neck Pain; Headache

Keywords

dry needling; Musculoskeletal Pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The visual analog scale (VAS)

  Intensity of neck and head pain: This was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). It consists of a 10 cm horizontal line, where 0 cm on the left side represents "no pain" and 10 cm on the right side represents "maximum pain." The subject marks a perpendicular line at the point they consider to represent their pain intensity. The examiner then places a millimeter ruler on the scale, assigning a numerical value to the line drawn by the patient. The VAS has proven to be a valid and reliable tool (intraclass correlation coefficient \[ICC\] 0.71-0.99).

  Change from baseline at 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Disability Associated with Neck Pain

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Kinesiophobia with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TSK-11)

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Catastrophizing with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Local twitch response (LTRs)

  Change from baseline at 3 months

• Cervical joint Range

  Change from baseline mobility at one week after intervention

Study Arms (2)

Upper trapezius dry needling with adduction shoulder

EXPERIMENTAL

The dry needling technique will be applied to the trapezius muscle while the subject lies prone, with the upper limb at the side of the body, shoulder lowered, in adduction and cervical region in a neutral position. The dry needling technique will be applied using a pincer grasp, inserting the needle from the posterior to the anterior portion of the upper trapezius muscle.

Other: Dry needling technique with the shoulder in full adduction.

Upper trapezius dry needling with 90º abduction shoulder

EXPERIMENTAL

The dry needling technique will be applied to the trapezius muscle while the subject lies prone, with the upper limb separated from the body, shoulder at 90 degrees of abduction and cervical region in a neutral position. The dry needling technique will be applied using a pincer grasp, inserting the needle from the posterior to the anterior portion of the upper trapezius muscle.

Other: Dry needling technique with the shoulder in 90° abduction.

Interventions

Dry needling technique with the shoulder in full adduction. OTHER

Ten incisions will be made in a posteroanterior direction while the patient lies prone and the muscle is grasped with a pincer grip between the first three fingers. The technique will be applied to the area that is mechanically most hyperalgesic and related to the reproduction of the patient's pain.

Upper trapezius dry needling with adduction shoulder

Dry needling technique with the shoulder in 90° abduction. OTHER

Ten incisions will be made in a posteroanterior direction while the patient lies prone and the muscle is grasped with a pincer grip between the first three fingers. The technique will be applied to the area that is mechanically most hyperalgesic and related to the reproduction of the patient's pain.

Upper trapezius dry needling with 90º abduction shoulder

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 65 years
• Neck pain lasting more than 3 months
• Current neck pain greater than 3/10 on the VAS (Visual Analog Scale)
• Presence of active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle, meeting the following criteria: Painful point within a taut band whose palpation reproduces the patient's symptoms.

You may not qualify if:

• Neck pain with a medical diagnosis (fractures, arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.)
• Radicular pain (paresthesia, burning, electric shocks)
• Whiplash or any recent trauma
• Previous surgery
• Treatment by another physiotherapist within the last 3 months
• Infections
• Needle phobia
• Use of anticoagulant medications
• Pregnancy
• Fibromyalgia
• Metal allergies
• Cognitive deficits or communication problems

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alcala: lead

Study Sites (2)

Clinical University Physiotherapy and pain

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 2805, Spain

RECRUITING

Physioterapy and Pain center research

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28805, Spain

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neck Pain; Headache; Musculoskeletal Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Central Study Contacts

Daniel Pecos-Martin, PhD

CONTACT

34918855142; daniel.pecos@uah.es

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: Profesor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Posted: June 5, 2026
• Study Start: June 8, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2026
• Last Updated: June 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (2)