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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03787706

Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Neck Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas

Alcorcón, Madrid, 28921, Spain

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

dry needling

Other

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

Manual therapy

Other

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

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in electromyographic activity of the neck superficial flexor muscles before and after the intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

    Bipolar surface EMG will be recorded with pairs of electrodes positioned 20mm apart and fixed firmly with an adhesive tape bilaterally over the sternocleidomastoid, the anterior scalene, the upper trapezius and the splenius capitis muscles.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

    A Numerical Pain Rate Scale (NPRS, 0-10) will be used to assess spontaneous neck pain intensity

  2. Changes in widespread pressure pain sensitivity before and after the intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

    Pressure pain thresholds will be assessed over C5/C6 zygapophyseal joints, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior muscle

  3. Changes in cervical range of motion before and after the intervention

    Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

    Active cervical range of motion will be assessed with a Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device in all cervical motions

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Electromyographic Changes in the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test After Dry Needling of the Upper Trapezius Muscle in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Dec 26, 2018
Registry last updated
Sep 29, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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