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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04476381

Immediate Effect of Dry Needling on Trigger Points

The immediate effects (0-30 minutes) of a dry needling intervention on a trigger point on their viscoelastic properties (tone, elasticity and stiffness)

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Key information

Conditions

Shoulder Pain Arthralgia Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Neurologic Manifestations 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

CRCHUS-Physius Lab

Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H5N4, Canada

About this study

Objectives: To investigate the immediate effects of a dry needling puncture on the viscoelastic properties (tone, stiffness and elasticity) of a trigger point (TP) located in the infraspinatus muscle in participants with non-traumatic chronic shoulder pain.

Methods: Forty-eight individuals who presented non-traumatic chronic shoulder pain were recruited. The presence of a TP in the infraspinatus muscle of the painful side was confirmed by an experienced physiotherapist with a palpatory exam according to Travell and Simons criteria. The TP was marked and the viscoelastic properties including tone, stiffness and elasticity were measured with the MyotonPro device by an evaluator. After the first set of measurements (T1), an experienced physiotherapist applied a dry needling puncture to the TP with a pistoning technique to obtain a local twitch response (LTR) with an Optimed 40 x 0.30 mm single use acupuncture needle. The same set of measurements was repeated immediately after the dry needling (T2) and 30 minutes later (T3). Repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used to assess changes in viscoelastic properties over time with a significant level set at 0.05.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • present with chronic shoulder pain of non-traumatic origin (rated at least 2/10 on a numeric rating scale (NRS) for more than 3 months. The pain had to be located in the shoulder area or referred in the area of the infraspinatus as described by Travell and Simons (1999);
  • have a hyperirritable spot within a palpable tight band that reproduced the participant's pain when compressed by palpation; and
  • have a body mass index (BMI) lower than 28

Exclusion criteria

  • diagnosis of capsulitis, cancer, or metastasis;
  • previous shoulder or thorax surgery or a mastectomy;
  • shoulder girdle bone fracture;
  • C4-C5 or C6 radiculopathy;
  • known osteoporotic profile (positive bone densitometry);
  • apparent atrophy of the infraspinatus fossa (visual interpretation) and
  • contraindications to receive a DN intervention

Treatment and study plan

dry needling

Procedure

Insertion of a Optimed 40mm x 0.30 single use, sterile acupuncture needle into a active trigger point in the infraspinatus muscle

Primary outcomes

  1. Tone in Hertz measured with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: baseline

    Measurement of the tone in Hz with the myotonometer MyotonPro on the trigger point

  2. Tone in Hertz measured with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: immediately after the intervention

    Measurement of the tone in Hz with the myotonometer MyotonPro on the trigger point

  3. Tone in Hertz measured with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: 30 minutes after the intervention

    Measurement of the tone in Hz with the myotonometer MyotonPro on the trigger point

  4. Stiffness in N/m with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: baseline

    Measurement of the stiffness in N/m with the myotonometer MyotonPro on the trigger point

  5. Stiffness in N/m with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: immediately after the intervention

    Measurement of the stiffness in N/m with the myotonometer MyotonPro on the trigger point

  6. Stiffness in N/m with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: 30 minutes after the intervention

    Measurement of the stiffness in N/m with the myotonometer MyotonPro on the trigger point

  7. Elasticity (no units: inversely proportional to the decrement of the oscillations) with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: baseline

    Measurement of the elasticity with the MyotonPro

  8. Elasticity (no units: inversely proportional to the decrement of the oscillations) with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: immediately after the intervention

    Measurement of the elasticity with the MyotonPro

  9. Elasticity (no units: inversely proportional to the decrement of the oscillations) with a myotonometer on the trigger point

    Time frame: 30 minutes after the intervention

    Measurement of the elasticity with the MyotonPro

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Université de Sherbrooke

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Immediate Effect of Dry Needling on the Viscoelastic Properties of a Trigger Point on the Infraspinatus Muscle Measured With the MyotonPro

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2019
First posted
Jul 20, 2020
Registry last updated
Jul 20, 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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