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Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain

Primary Purpose

Neck Pain

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
Spain
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Dry Needling
Manual Therapy
Sponsored by
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Neck Pain focused on measuring Neck Pain, Trigger points, Dry needling, Cranio-cervical flexion test

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 55 Years (Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

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

Sites / Locations

  • Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Dry needling

Manual Therapy

Arm Description

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

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

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Changes in electromyographic activity of the neck superficial flexor muscles before and after the intervention
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 Outcome Measures

Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention
A Numerical Pain Rate Scale (NPRS, 0-10) will be used to assess spontaneous neck pain intensity
Changes in widespread pressure pain sensitivity before and after the intervention
Pressure pain thresholds will be assessed over C5/C6 zygapophyseal joints, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior muscle
Changes in cervical range of motion before and after the intervention
Active cervical range of motion will be assessed with a Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device in all cervical motions

Full Information

First Posted
December 22, 2018
Last Updated
September 27, 2021
Sponsor
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03787706
Brief Title
Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain
Official Title
Electromyographic Changes in the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test After Dry Needling of the Upper Trapezius Muscle in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
September 2021
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
January 15, 2019 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
June 15, 2021 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
September 1, 2021 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
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.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Neck Pain
Keywords
Neck Pain, Trigger points, Dry needling, Cranio-cervical flexion test

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
InvestigatorOutcomes Assessor
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
50 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Dry needling
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle
Arm Title
Manual Therapy
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Dry Needling
Intervention Description
Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle
Intervention Type
Other
Intervention Name(s)
Manual Therapy
Intervention Description
Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Changes in electromyographic activity of the neck superficial flexor muscles before and after the intervention
Description
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.
Time Frame
Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention
Description
A Numerical Pain Rate Scale (NPRS, 0-10) will be used to assess spontaneous neck pain intensity
Time Frame
Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Title
Changes in widespread pressure pain sensitivity before and after the intervention
Description
Pressure pain thresholds will be assessed over C5/C6 zygapophyseal joints, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior muscle
Time Frame
Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Title
Changes in cervical range of motion before and after the intervention
Description
Active cervical range of motion will be assessed with a Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) device in all cervical motions
Time Frame
Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
55 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
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
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas
City
Alcorcon
State/Province
Madrid
ZIP/Postal Code
28921
Country
Spain

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
35179608
Citation
Rodriguez-Jimenez J, Ortega-Santiago R, Bonilla-Barba L, Falla D, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Florencio LL. Immediate Effects of Dry Needing or Manual Pressure Release of Upper Trapezius Trigger Points on Muscle Activity During the Craniocervical Flexion Test in People with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Pain Med. 2022 Sep 30;23(10):1717-1725. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnac034.
Results Reference
derived

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Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain

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