Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Status: Completed

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: Dry Needling; Other: Manual Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03787706

URJC3010201812618

Details and patient eligibility

About

There is evidence suggesting that patients with mechanical neck pain exhibit higher activity of the superficial neck flexor muscles during the execution of the cranio-cervical flexion test. In addition, some studies have reported the presence of active trigger points in the neck flexor and extensor muscles. Since preliminary evidence suggests that trigger points can affect motor control behaviour, it is possible that management of these trigger points with dry needling could be effective for improving muscle activity during low-load activities, such as the cranio-cervical flexion test. Therefore, the aim of this study will be to investigate the effects on electromyographical activity, pressure pain thresholds and cervical range of motion after the application of dry needling over active TrPs in the upper trapezius muscle in patients with mechanical neck pain.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Generalized neck-shoulder pain with symptoms provoked by neck postures, neck movement, or palpation of the cervical musculature.

Exclusion criteria

• whiplash injury;
• previous cervical or thoracic surgery;
• cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy;
• diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome;
• having undergone physical therapy in the previous 6 months;
• less than 18 or greater than 55 years of age
• fear to needles

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Dry needling

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Treatment:

Other: Dry Needling

Manual Therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Treatment:

Other: Manual Therapy