The Importance of the Number of Incisions in the Effectiveness of Dry Needling

University of Alcala

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Neck Pain

Treatments: Other: Dose of fifteen-incisions dry needling technique; Other: Dose of ten-incisions dry needling technique; Other: Dose of five-incisions dry needling technique

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06149442

CEIM/2022/1/008

Details and patient eligibility

About

The dry needling technique is a procedure increasingly used by health professionals.

Dry needling consists of the use of a filiform needle to treat musculoskeletal pain. Currently, the mechanisms by which it is an effective technique are not well understood. One of the aspects not yet evaluated is the best dose in terms of the number of times it is necessary to insert the needle into the patient to achieve the best result.

This research work aims to assess which treatment obtains the best results in the management of patients with chronic neck pain.

Full description

With the objective of demonstrating how the dose used during the application of the dry needling technique is related to the effectiveness of the treatment, we have designed a study where three different doses of the dry needling technique for the treatment of myofascial trigger points will be compared in the upper trapezius muscle in participants with neck pain.

Randomly, the participants will be distributed to each of the treatment groups and we will measure how the effectiveness of each of the applied doses determines the result of the application of the dry needling technique in the treatment of neck pain.

Enrollment: 90 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Nonspecific mechanical neck pain for more than 3 months.
• Neck pain of at least VAS 5/10.
• Reproduction of pain and symptoms subjects on palpation.
• Pain on passive stretching of the muscle.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects with previous surgical intervention.
• Subjects undergoing other intervention (rehabilitation/medication).
• Positive findings that raise suspicion of cervical radiculopathy:
• Subjects diagnosed: degenerative arthropathies, inflammatory, systemic conditions (fibromyalgia).
• Cardiovascular diseases.
• Whiplash or whiplash.
• Belenophobia.
• Dizziness and vertigo.
• Pregnant.
• Thyroid disorders.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

Dose of five muscle incisions

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects treated in this group will receive an in-out technique with a dosage of five incisions in the myofascial trigger point of the levator scapulae muscle.

Treatment:

Other: Dose of five-incisions dry needling technique

Dose of ten muscle incisions

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects treated in this group will receive an in-out technique with a dosage of ten incisions in the myofascial trigger point of the levator scapulae muscle.

Treatment:

Other: Dose of ten-incisions dry needling technique

Dose of fifteen muscle incisions

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects treated in this group will receive an in-out technique with a dosage of fifteen incisions in the myofascial trigger point of the levator scapulae muscle.

Treatment:

Other: Dose of fifteen-incisions dry needling technique