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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04466813

Effect of Dry Needling on Muscle Mechanical Properties and Muscle Contractility in Latent Trigger Points

The purpose of this study is to determine whether application of Dry Needling (DN) is effective for improved Muscle Mechanical Properties and Muscle Contractility in Latent Trigger Points point (LTrP) of upper trapezius. Randomized controlled trial, in parallel with cross-control design. Two groups with LTrP in upper trapezius, and will be randomly selected to DN group or Sham-Dn group.

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Key information

Conditions

Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Myofascial Pain Syndromes

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory

Toledo, 45071, Spain

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age between 18 and 30 years
  • The presence of LTrP in the middle third of the upper trapezius muscle on the dominant side
  • Being able to provide written informed consent
  • Being able to follow instructions and realize clinical tests

Exclusion criteria

  • Any pharmacological therapeutic
  • Any medical treatment or physical therapies at cervical region during the 6-month before this study - Any diagnosed health problem
  • Any history of head and upper extremity surgery or trauma
  • Any red flags to DN, (ie: metabolic diseases, pregnancy, kinesiophobia, Infection, cancer)
  • Absence of recurrent history of neck pain
  • No neck pain symptomatology the previous 6 months
  • Cervical disk herniation

Treatment and study plan

Intervention-Dry Needling

Device

Deep Dry Needling into the site of the latent Trigger Point of the upper trapezius muscle.

1 session in upper trapezius muscle moving the needle up and down ten times.

Control-Dry Needling

Device

Sham Dry Needling into the site of the latent Trigger Point of the upper trapezius muscle with non-penetrating needles

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Stiffness

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. Stiffness reflects the resistance of the muscle to the force deforming the muscle.

  2. Change in Maximal Radial Displacement (Dm)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. The variable Dm is given by the radial displacement of the muscular belly in a transverse plane, expressed in millimeters (mm) and depends on muscle tone or stiffness. A low Dm is related to a high muscle tone or an excess of stiffness, while a high Dm value indicates a lack of muscle tone or stiffness defect.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Oscillation Frequency

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. The frequency of the damped oscillations characterizes the muscle tone.

  2. Change in Decrement (elasticity)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro.The logarithmic decrement of the damping oscillations characterizes muscle elasticity which is the ability of the muscle to restore its initial shape after contraction

  3. Change in Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time [ms]

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time [ms] is the time for a muscle to recover tis shape from deformation after a voluntary contraction or a removal of an external force.

  4. Change in Ratio of deformation and Relaxation time, characterising Creep (Deborah number)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. Ratio of deformation and Relaxation time, characterising Creep (Deborah number) is the gradual elongation of a tissue over time when placed under a constant tensile stress.

  5. Change in Contraction time (Tc)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Contraction time (Tc) as a time between 10% and 90% of the contraction

  6. Change in Delay time (Td)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Delay time (Td) as a time between the electrical impulse and 10% of the contraction

  7. Change in Sustain time (Ts)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Sustain time (Ts) as a time between 50% of the contraction and 50% of the relaxation

  8. Change in Relaxation time (Tr)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Relaxation time (Tr) as a time between 90% and 50% of the relaxation

  9. Change in Pressure Pain Perception (PPP)

    Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

    Change in Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) as assessed using an manual mechanical algometer. The procedure performed was the same as the prior described, but pressure was kept until 2.5 kg/cm2 and maintained for 5 seconds, whereas the subject had to characterize the level of pain using a 10-mm visual analog scale (VAS)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Castilla-La Mancha

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Dry Needling on Stiffness in Latent Trigger Points a Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Jul 10, 2020
Registry last updated
Oct 23, 2020

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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