Dry Needling Versus Strain-counterstrain on the Upper Trapezius

Neck Pain Clinical Trial

— DNJ  

Official title:

Dry Needling Versus Strain Counterstrain Technique: Pilot Study Comparing Effects Over the Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Point

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01290653
• Other study ID #: CEU UCH 203
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: February 4, 2011
• Last updated: May 13, 2014
• Start date: February 2011
• Est. completion date: September 2011

Study information

• Verified date: May 2014
• Source: Cardenal Herrera University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Spain: Ethics Committee
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study investigates the effect of two different techniques (dry needling and Strain-counterstrain manual technique) on the upper trapezius myofascial trigger point (MTP). Subjects with active or latent MTP in this location of the muscle will be identified and will be randomly assigned to one out of three groups: dry needling, strain-counterstrain or placebo manual technique. Pain pressure threshold, provoked pain, pain at rest, neck disability and electromyography (EMG) activity of the upper trapezius will be registered before and after six sessions of treatment.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 39
• Est. completion date: September 2011
• Est. primary completion date: July 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active myofascial trigger point at the upper trapezius

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed fibromyalgia

• Cervical radiculopathy

• Facial neuralgia

• Coagulation alteration

• Cancer

• Allergy (included needles)

• History of cervical or shoulder surgery

• History of deep venous thrombosis

• History of myopathy

• History of infiltration at upper trapezius trigger point

• Anticoagulant medication

• Aspirin intake during the last 3 days

• Drug intake (AINES, narcotics, antiepileptics, or any other analgesic medication)

• Pregnancy

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Neck Pain

Intervention

Other:
• Dry needling
Deep dry needling until achieving twitch response of the muscle
• Strain-counterstrain technique
A manual technique to release tension of painful muscles.
• Placebo manual technique
A placebo technique, consisting of manual contact of the therapist with the patient without any further therapeutic approach

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Spain	Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera	Moncada	Valencia

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Cardenal Herrera University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Spain, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Pain Pressure Threshold	Amount of pressure (Kg/cm2) applied at the myofascial trigger point site that elicit pain for the patient will be reported. Analogy pressure algometer(Wagner, FPK 20) will be used.	6 sessions	No
Secondary	Pain at rest	Visual Analogue Scale	6 sessions	No
Secondary	Neck Disability	Neck Disability Index	6 sessions	No
Secondary	Electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius	Surface EMG will be recorded (MP 100 de BIOPAC Systems; Goleta, California, USA). Electrodes will be located to register activity of the Upper trapezius, according to Surface ElectroMyoGraphy for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM) guidelines. Microvolts of activity at rest will be recorded. Data will be normalized through calculation of maximal voluntary contraction, so that final data will be reported as a percentage.	6 sessions	No