Latent Myofascial Trigger Points in the Craniocervical Region

Clinical Efficacy of Mobilization of the Nervous System Compared to Soft Tissue Techniques Intervention in Asymptomatic Subjects With Latent Myofascial Trigger Points in the Craniocervical Region: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03327545

Enrollment

Registered

2017-10-31

Start date

2017-01-31

Completion date

2017-07-31

Last updated

2017-10-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Keywords

Trigger points, Trigegeminal nerve, Pain

Brief summary

Myofascial pain is a clinical problem that has generated interest, debate and confusion for decades. According to studies anywhere between 33 and 97 % of patients with musculoskeletal pain visiting physicians and manual therapists are diagnosed with Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs). MTrPs are localized, hyperirritable points that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands (TB) of muscle fibres. MTrPs can be classified into active and latent. Latent MTrPs demonstrate the same clinical characteristics as active MTrPs but they do not provoke spontaneous pain. The myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are common in healthy subjects and in patients with musculoskeletal pain, and could produce sensitive disturbances and motor dysfunctions

Interventions

DEVICENeural mobilization

Neural mobilization on the right side of the craniocervical region for a total of 12 minutes.

DEVICESoft tissue techniques and Stretching

Soft tissue techniques and Stretching on the right side of the craniocervical region for a total of 12 minutes

DEVICEControl group

Did not receive any treatment.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Neck pain

Exclusion criteria

* myelopathy * fracture * infection * dystonia * tumor * inflammatory disease * fibromyalgia * or osteoporosis

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change from Pain intensity at 24 hours	24 hours, 5 minutes after the treatment	Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPT) will be assessed bilaterally over the masseter, temporalis, trapezius and suboccipital muscles by an assessor blinded to the subjects condition.
Maximum mouth opening without pain at 24 hours	24 hours, 5 minutes after the treatment	Is the ability to open the mouth so widely as you could without pain.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) at 24 hours	24 hours, 5 minutes after the treatment	Will be used to measure PCS

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026