Myofascial Pain and Central Sensitization

This prospective, observational cohort pilot study compared pain phenotyping and functional measures in 30 participants with non-acute neck and/or shoulder girdle pain consistent with primary myofascial pain at 3-months following a physical therapy referral to study the impact of their baseline degree of pain amplification.

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Key information

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Physical Therapy

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48108, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

English-speaking participants
Diagnosed by their physician with non-acute (more than two weeks) neck and/or shoulder girdle primary myofascial pain
Referred to a physical therapy treatment.

Exclusion criteria

In an effort to reduce the potential that another medical condition could lead to a secondary myofascial pain response, extensive comorbid exclusion criterion.
Use of chronic high-dose opioid medication greater than 100 mg oral morphine equivalents per day.
Individuals receiving or applying for compensation or disability.
The inability to provide informed consent.
Severe physical impairment (e.g., blindness, deafness)
Co-morbid medical condition limiting function (e.g., malignant cancer)
Reported illicit drug use
Severe psychiatric condition that would limit judgment.
Lack of internet access.

Treatment and study plan

Physical Therapy

Other

Physical therapy for chronic upper quarter myofascial pain syndrome, as prescribed by the patients' physicians

Primary outcomes

Change in Neck Disability Index

Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

Function neck scale with a total possible score of 50 indicating worse function compared to a score of 0.

Secondary outcomes

Change in PEG Score

Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

Multidimensional measure for initial assessment and follow-up of chronic pain in a primary care setting. The average of 3 domains with an averaged score of 0 to 10; 0 means lower pain interference and 10 means higher pain interference with life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Michigan

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Impact of Nociplastic Pain Features on the Response to Physical Therapy in Patients With Primary Myofascial Pain: A Pilot Study.

Important dates

Study start: 2016
Primary completion: 2019
Study completion: 2019
First posted: Jun 18, 2021
Registry last updated: Sep 17, 2025

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed