Clinical trial NCT03787706: 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
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Neck Pain
Keywords: Neck Pain
Trigger points
Dry needling
Cranio-cervical flexion test
Lead sponsor: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-12-26
Enrollment: 50
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

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.


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

Primary outcomes:
measure: Changes in electromyographic activity of the neck superficial flexor muscles before and after the intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
measure: Changes in widespread pressure pain sensitivity before and after the intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
measure: Changes in cervical range of motion before and after the intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Alcorcon
country: Spain
facility: Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas
state: Madrid
Study officials:
References:
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.