Immediate Stiffness Changes in Myofascial Trigger Points After Dry Needling (ELECTROP)

Camilo Jose Cela University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial; Myofascial Pain Syndrome; Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: Sham Dry Needling; Other: Dry Needling

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04832074

CamiloJcU21

Details and patient eligibility

About

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) is considered as a useful tool for quantifying muscle stiffness. Considering that Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrP) are defined as "hyperirritable zones in contracted bands of muscle, thought to be caused by muscle overload or stress" and the effectiveness of dry needling applied to active MTrP for reducing pain and disability, the aim of this study is to assess the effects of sham and real dry needling, applied to active MTrP in the upper trapezius muscle in patients with chronic neck pain, on the muscle stiffness in two areas: 1) the most symptomatic area and 2) a control point.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients between 18 and 65 and
• Presence of mechanical neck pain for at least three months duration
• Presence of at least one active MTrP in the Upper Trapezius muscle

Exclusion criteria

• Neck pain of traumatic origin (such as whiplash-associated disorder)
• Current use of any kind of analgesic therapy
• Presenting any condition usually considered a perpetuating factor of MTrPs, such as fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, or iron deficiencies
• Presenting any contraindication for Dry Needling application
• Neuropathies (e.g., radiculopathy)
• Bilateral Pain

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Dry Needling

Experimental group

Description:

Dry needling will be performed with 'solid filiform needles'. The procedure is as follows: The participant will lie in the prone position. The overlying skin will be cleaned with antiseptic spray. The taut band and MTrP, will be localized manually. After measuring the Pain Pressure Thresholds in this location and the control (located 3 cm lateral to the MTrP), the needle within its plastic guide tube will be placed over the MTrP. After a tapping movement to insert the needle, the needle will be moved to the muscle around the bundle and moved forward and backward to the tissue to elicit a small muscle twitch. After eliciting LTR, needling will be stopped. If no twitch were elicited, needling will stopped after two or three stellate movements

Treatment:

Other: Dry Needling

Sham Dry Needling

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The same approach will be used with the exception of piercing the skin. The guide tube will press against the tissue and the sham needle will be allowed to drop against the skin. The handle will be tapped briskly but not breaking the skin. The sham needle will stay within the guide tube and will be pressed against the skin twice so as to mimic the quick "in and out" technique.

Treatment:

Other: Sham Dry Needling