Superficial Dry Needling Versus Deep Dry Needling on the Upper Trapezius

Analysis, Comparison and Evaluation of Cervical Range of Motion and Neck Pain After Deep Dry Needling and Superficial Dry Needling in the Upper Trapezius: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03719352

Enrollment

180

Registered

2018-10-25

Start date

2018-10-24

Completion date

2018-11-08

Last updated

2018-11-14

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

Conditions

Neck Pain

Brief summary

This study investigates the effect of two different techniques (deep dry needling and superficial dry needling) on the latent myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius. Subjects with latent Myofascial trigger point in this location of the muscle will be identified and will be randomly assigned to one out of the three groups: deep dry needling, superficial dry needling or sham dry needling in gastrocnemius muscle. cervical range of motion and pain pressure threshold in the upper trapezius will be registered before, immediately after the intervention, at 24 hours after the intervention, at 72 hours after the intervention and a week after the intervention

Interventions

PROCEDUREExperimental: Deep dry needling

Deep dry needling until achieving twitch response of the muscle

PROCEDUREExperimental: Superficial dry needling

Superficial dry needling to achieve sensitive pain with needle rotation

PROCEDUREPlacebo Comparator: Placebo Gastrocnemius dry needling

Simulate pain with de plastic needle guard in the gastrocnemius muscle

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Double (participant, outcomes Assessor

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 55 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Present the latent Myofascial trigger Point (MTP) 1 in upper trapezius. * Accept participation in the study (signature of informed consent). * Be in an age range between 18 and 55 years. * Do not present any

Exclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Pain pressure threshold	a week	Amount of pressure (Kg/cm2) applied at the upper trapezius myofascial trigger point site that elicit pain for the patient will be reported

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Cervical range of motion	a week	cervical movement in flexion and extension, left and right rotation and side bending left and right

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 14, 2026