Dry Needling of Scalene Muscle Trigger Points in Mechanical Neck Pain

Overview

There is preliminary evidence suggesting that referred pain from active trigger points can play a relevant role in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Some studies have investigated the effectiveness of dry needling over the upper trapezius muscle in this population. However, other muscles, such as the scalene muscles, can be also relevant for neck pain symptoms. No study has investigated the effects of the application of dry needling over active trigger points in the scalenes muscles in a sample of patients with mechanical neck pain.

Full Title of Study: “Effects of Dry Needling of Active Trigger Points in the Scalene Muscles on Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: May 15, 2019

Interventions

  • Other: Dry needling
    • A solid filiform needle will be inserted over active trigger points in the scalene muscles for 30 seconds. The aim will be to elicit local twitch responses or the referred pain pattern of the scalene muscles.
  • Other: Manual Therapy
    • The therapist will apply manual compression over active trigger points in the scalene muscles for 30 seconds

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: Dry needling
    • Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the scalene muscles
  • Active Comparator: Manual Therapy
    • Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the scalene muscles

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention
    • Time Frame: Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention
    • A Numerical Pain Rate Scale (NPRS, 0-10) will be used to assess spontaneous neck pain intensity

Secondary Measures

  • Changes in oxigen saturation with a pulse oximeter before and after the intervention
    • Time Frame: Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention
    • Oxygen saturation will be monitored with a handheld pulse oximeter with Masimo SET® measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion™ pulse oximeter
  • Changes in inspiratory vital capacity with an incentive spirometer before and after the intervention
    • Time Frame: Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention
    • Changes in inspiratory vital capacity will be assessed with the incentive spirometer DHD Coach 2®
  • Changes in neck-related disability with the Neck Disability Index before and after the intervention
    • Time Frame: Baseline and 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention
    • The Neck Disability Index (NDI, 0-50), a specific neck pain related disability questionaire, will be used for assessing neck pain related-disability

Participating in This Clinical Trial

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 45 years of age – fear to needles – any respiratory disease, e.g., chronic brochitis

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 45 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, Director of Department – Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
  • Overall Official(s)
    • César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, Principal Investigator, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Clinical trials entries are delivered from the US National Institutes of Health and are not reviewed separately by this site. Please see the identifier information above for retrieving further details from the government database.

At TrialBulletin.com, we keep tabs on over 200,000 clinical trials in the US and abroad, using medical data supplied directly by the US National Institutes of Health. Please see the About and Contact page for details.