Comparison Between Deep Dry Needling and Muscle Energy Technique on Chronic Non-specific Neck Pain Patients.

Cairo University (CU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Procedure: Deep dry needling; Procedure: Muscle energy technique; Procedure: Neck stability exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05730426

P.T.REC/012/003913

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare between applying deep dry needling and muscle energy technique in chronic non-specific neck pain patients. Researchers will compare between deep dry needling group, muscle energy technique group and control group to see if there are change in pain, range of motion or function.

Enrollment: 66 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 18 and 40 years.
2. Current neck pain.
3. Presence of at least one or two trigger points .
4. Patients are diagnosed and referred from orthopedist complaining from chronic neck pain for at least 12 weeks.
5. No clinical treatment for neck pain within the past month.
6. lacked a history of neck and shoulder myopathy, neuropathy, myelopathy and neck, torso and shoulder surgery.
7. Patients with body mass index less than 30 kg/m2.

Exclusion criteria

1. Patients outside the target range.
2. Neck pain associated with vertigo.
3. Osteoporosis.
4. Diagnosed psychological disorders.
5. Fibromyalgia syndrome.
6. Vertebral fractures.
7. Spinal stenosis.
8. Tumors.
9. Previous neck surgery.
10. Red flags (night pain, severe muscle spasm, loss of involuntary weight, symptom mismatch).
11. Physiotherapeutic treatment continued in the last 3 months. Any contraindications for deep dry needling such as anticoagulants, infections and bleeding.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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66 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Group A

Active Comparator group

Description:

In addition to Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (typical,100 Hz, 20 mins), Infrared (7 mins), and Exercises (Cervical Stability Exercises through activation of deep neck flexors), patients received deep dry needling on active trigger points in selected muscles (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and sternocleidomastoid ), 3 sessions/week, for 4 weeks period.

Treatment:

Procedure: Deep dry needling

Group B

Active Comparator group

Description:

In addition to Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (typical,100 Hz, 20 mins), Infrared (7 mins), and Exercises (Cervical Stability Exercises through activation of deep neck flexors), patients received muscle energy technique (post isometric relaxation) in selected muscles (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and sternocleidomastoid ), 3 sessions/week, for 4 weeks period.

Treatment:

Procedure: Muscle energy technique

Group C

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Patients receive Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) (typical,100 Hz, 20 mins), Infrared (7 mins), and Exercises (Cervical Stability Exercises through activation of deep neck flexors) , 3 sessions/week, for 4 weeks period.

Treatment:

Procedure: Neck stability exercise