The Immediate Effects of Dry Needling Acupuncture on Pain Intensity and Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients With Myofascial Pain Syndrome of The Upper Trapezius

NCT07833475 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 0257/EC/KEPK/08/2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the immediate effects of a single session of dry needling on pain intensity and pressure pain threshold in patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius muscle. Outcomes will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) before treatment and at 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 72 hours after treatment.

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Intensity Measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

  The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) measures self-reported pain intensity. The NRS is an 11-point numerical scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Participants select the number that best represents their pain intensity at the time of assessment. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. The outcome is the change in NRS pain intensity from baseline to immediately after the dry needling intervention.

  baseline, 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 72 hours after treatment

• Change in Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) of the Upper Trapezius Muscle

  Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) is an objective measure of pressure pain sensitivity in deep muscular tissue. PPT is defined as the minimum amount of externally applied pressure at which a gradually increasing, non-painful pressure stimulus is first perceived as painful. PPT will be measured using a pressure algometer applied to the specified measurement point in the upper trapezius muscle. The pressure will be increased gradually until the participant reports the onset of pain. The pressure value at the onset of pain will be recorded. Higher PPT values indicate lower pressure pain sensitivity, whereas lower PPT values indicate greater pressure pain sensitivity. The outcome measure is the change in PPT from baseline to immediately after the dry needling intervention.

  baseline, 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 72 hours after treatment

Study Arms (1)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Dry Needling Acupuncture

Device: Dry Needling Acupuncture

Interventions

Dry Needling Acupuncture DEVICE

The procedures will be done once, and outcomes will be evaluated at 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 72 hours after treatment.

Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 59 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male or female participants aged 18-59 years with complaints of pain in the posterior neck and shoulder regions.
• Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) identified on palpation of the upper trapezius muscle.
• Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score of 4-6 and Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) ≤ 3 kg
• Willingness to participate in the study until completion and to sign the informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• A previous diagnosis of cervical herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP).
• History of thread-embedding acupuncture therapy in the upper trapezius muscle within the past 6 months.
• History of dry needling (DN) and/or acupuncture therapy in the upper trapezius muscle within the past 1 week.
• History of taking analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications within the past 24 hours.
• Presence of a tumor, wound, or skin infection at the needling site.
• History of hypersensitivity reactions to previous acupuncture therapy (metal allergy, severe atopy, keloids, or other skin hypersensitivity).
• Presence of a blood disorder or use of anticoagulant medications (heparin and warfarin).
• Pregnant women.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitas Indonesia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universitas Indonesia

Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

• Medical Acupuncture Study Program FKUI

  Medical Acupuncture Study Program Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Meitty Marisha, MD

CONTACT

08561812511; meitty.marisha@ui.ac.id

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: The participants and the principal investigator will not be blinded in this invertention
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Model Details: The dry needling acupuncture will be designed as a single intervention

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 16, 2026
• First Posted: September 22, 2026
• Study Start: September 30, 2026
• Primary Completion: October 3, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: September 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ID (1)