Efficacy of Dry Needling in Cervical Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The presence of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the angular muscle of the scapula is one of the possible causes of non-specific neck pain. Dry needling (DN) and ischaemic compression (IC) techniques may be useful for the treatment of these MTrPs. Methods: 80 participants were divided into two groups: the dry needling group, which received a single session of DN on the angular muscle plus hyperalgesia (n=40), and the IC group, which received a single session of IC on the angular muscle plus hyperalgesia (n=40). Pain intensity, pain pressure threshold (PPT), range of motion (ROM) and quality of life were assessed at baseline, immediately after, 48 hours and one week after treatment.

Official Title
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Efficacy of Dry Needling and Ischaemic Compression of the Scapula Angularis Muscle in Patients With Cervicalgia. Randomised Clinical Trial

Conditions
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Cervical Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: dry needling
* Other: Ischaemic compression


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients presenting with neck pain Patients presenting with trigger point activation of the angularis scapulae muscle Exclusion Criteria: Patients who have an absolute fear of needles (belonephobia). Patients presenting with cervical pain with radiculopathy or irradiation of pain to the upper limb.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: dry needling group<br>Subjects undergoing dry needling of the angularis scapulae muscle | Device: dry needling<br>* Active trigger point puncture of the angularis scapulae muscle<br>|
| Experimental: ischaemic compression group<br>Subjects undergoing ischaemic compression of the angularis scapulae muscle | Other: Ischaemic compression<br>* Ischaemic compression at the active trigger point of the angularis scapulae muscle<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain intensity | Pain intensity measured on the VAS scale with a minimum score of 0 (no pain) and a maximum score of 10 (highest possible pain endured). | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pressure pain threshold | pressure on the sore spot measured by algometer and the unit is Newtons. | 3 months | 
| range of motion | Joint movement in the cervical spine measured in degrees using a goniometer | 3 months | 
| quality life | Measured by physical activity questionnaire. Scoring is based on patients' responses. Minimum of 0, maximum of 100 points. | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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dry needling, physiotherapy techniques, cervical pain, pain