Dry Needling of Scalene Muscle Trigger Points in Mechanical Neck Pain

Effects of Dry Needling of Active Trigger Points in the Scalene Muscles on Individuals With Mechanical Neck Pain

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03762252

Enrollment

Registered

2018-12-03

Start date

2018-12-05

Completion date

2019-07-01

Last updated

2019-07-09

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

Conditions

Neck Pain

Brief summary

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.

Interventions

OTHERDry 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.

OTHERManual Therapy

The therapist will apply manual compression over active trigger points in the scalene muscles for 30 seconds

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 45 Years

Healthy volunteers

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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention	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

Measure	Time frame	Description
Changes in oxigen saturation with a pulse oximeter before and after the intervention	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	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	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

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

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