Dry Needling and Electromyographic Changes in Neck Pain

Neck Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

Electromyographic Changes in the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test After Dry Needling of the Upper Trapezius Muscle in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03787706
• Other study ID #: URJC3010201812618
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 15, 2019
• Est. completion date: September 1, 2021

Study information

• Verified date: September 2021
• Source: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 50
• Est. completion date: September 1, 2021
• Est. primary completion date: June 15, 2021
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 55 Years

Eligibility

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Neck Pain

Intervention

Other:
• Dry Needling
Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle
• Manual Therapy
Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Spain	Cesar Fernandez-de-Las-Peñas	Alcorcon	Madrid

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Spain, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	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.	Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Secondary	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	Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Secondary	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	Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment
Secondary	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	Baseline and 5 minutes after treatment