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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03025230

Dry Needling Versus Intramuscular Stimulation in the Management of the Myofascial Trigger Points

Hypothesis The application of intramuscular electrostimulation will be more effectiveness than the dry needling in myofascial trigger points treatment.

Objetives:

To determine the effectiveness of intramuscular electrostimulation in the treatment of trigger points of the levator scapula muscle for the improvement of pain in mechanical cervicalgia.

Participants: Subjects with diagnosed of myofascial pain syndrome in cervical region and active trigger points in levator scapulae muscle, randomly assigned to experimental or control group.

Intervention: Control group: one session of dry needling in active trigger points; experimental group: one session of intramuscular stimulation in active trigger points.

Main Outcomes Measures: Pain, pressure pain threshold (PPT), active cervical range of motion and strength muscle . The measures will be taken before, after and one week after the interventions.

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Key information

Conditions

Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial Muscle Pain Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal Pain Myalgia Myofascial Pain Syndrome Myofascial Pain Syndromes Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Diseases Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Patricia Martínez Merinero

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, 28806, Spain

About this study

The muscle pain is one of the most common forms of musculoskeletal pain. Within muscular pain, the presence of myofascial trigger points (PG) in the musculature is a important and prevalent problem.

Currently one the techniques most used in the treatment of PG is dry needling. Dry needling has been shown effective in the treatment of neck pain associated with PGs.

To our knowledge, there are no studies that they have compared the effectiveness of dry needling and intramuscular stimulation by applying an electric current.

This study is a randomized clinical trial that aims to demonstrate that the application of an electric current associated with dry needling in the treatment of PG.

In this study we will treat subjects with cervical pain who they have active PGs in the levator scapulae muscle.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Cervical pain.
  • Active trigger points in levator scapulae muscle

Exclusion criteria

  • Pain Irradiation toward upper limb
  • Psychological disorders
  • Whiplash.
  • Neuropathic symptoms
  • Cervical and / or Shoulder Spine Surgery

Treatment and study plan

Dry needling and electric stimulation

Other

Dry needling technique and the application of electric stimulation of levator scapulae PG

dry needling

Other

Treatment of PG with a filiform needle in levator scapulae muscle

Primary outcomes

  1. Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)

    Time frame: Change from baseline at one week

    An algometer Wagner FPI 10-WA will be used to determine the PPT in levator scapulae trigger points

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain Visual Analogue Scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline at one week

    The pain VAS is a unidimensional measure of pain intensity, which has been widely used in diverse adult populations. The VAS is a straight horizontal line of fixed length, usually 100 mm. The ends are defined as the extreme limits of the parameter to be measured from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain). All the subjects will showed their pain level.

  2. Strength in cervical latero-flexion

    Time frame: Change from baseline at one week

    Dynamic dynamometry with MicroFet-2 will be used while patients will positioned in seated. From this position, patients will performed lateral - flexion

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Alcala

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Intramuscular Electrostimulation in the Treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients With Neck Pain

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Jan 19, 2017
Registry last updated
May 8, 2024

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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