Neck Pain
Conditions
Keywords
physical therapy
Brief summary
The term myofascial pain refers to the existence of myofascial trigger points (MTP), which are defined as hypersensitive points in a tense band of skeletal muscle, which can cause referred pain or autonomous phenomena. To address the treatment of myofascial trigger points, conservative and invasive techniques have been proposed. Dry needling is one of the invasive techniques that have been shown to be effective in improving pain and function in patients with myofascial trigger points. This trial aims to analyse the effectiveness of dry needling in patients with myofascial neck pain.
Detailed description
The main objective of the study is to analyze the effects of dry needling on the superficial neck musculature in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain in terms of pain, functional capacity, mobility, psychosocial variables and motor control compared with both sham dry needling group and control group. In addition, a secondary objective is to analyze the relationships between the psychosocial variables and the results obtained in the variables analyzed in the patients belonging to the three groups. For this purpose the investigators conduct a randomized controlled trial double-blind. Patients included are randomized into 3 groups. One receives dry needling, another one receives sham dry needling, and the last one is a control group. The hypothesis of this study is that patients in the real dry needling group will improve more compared to patients in the sham dry needling group and the control group.
Interventions
OTHERDry needling
Dry needling is a technique used by physiotherapists.
OTHERSham dry needling
Sham dry needling is a technique used by physiotherapists to compare the effects of dry needling.
OTHERElectrotherapy + therapeutic exercise
Standard care of neck pain.
Sponsors
University of Valladolid
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients with myofascial neck pain * Presence of at least one active myofascial trigger point on the superficial neck musculature * Neck pain of at least 3 months * Age 18-70 * Pain intensity between 20 and 100 mm in the Analog Visual Scale * Neck disability index (NDI) greater than or equal to 15 points * Spanish speakers * Patients who do not present contraindications for the use of dry needling (anticoagulants, nickel allergy or belenophobia) * Patients who have not received physiotherapy or pharmacological treatment for neck pain for the last three months
Exclusion criteria
* History of cervical trauma * Cervical spine surgery * Vertebral fracture * Cervical pain associated with whiplash * Red flags (tumor, metabolic disorders or rheumatoid arthritis) * Inflammatory lesion in the neck region * Pregnancy * Fibromyalgia diagnosis * Neck pain associated with radiculopathy * Patients pending legal litigation * Psychiatric pathology diagnosis
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Neck pain | Baseline. | The investigators measure the neck pain with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline. |
| Cervical disability | Baseline. | The investigators measure the cervical disability with Neck Disability Index (NDI) at baseline. |
| Motor control | Baseline. | The investigators measure the motor control with Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT) at baseline. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain catastrophism | Baseline. | The investigators measure the pain catastrophism with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) at baseline. |
| Neck range of motion | Baseline. | The investigators measure the neck range of motion with an inclinometer at baseline. |
| Anxiety and depression | Baseline. | The investigators measure the anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline. |
| Pressure pain threshold | Baseline. | The investigators measure the pressure pain threshold with a digital algometer at baseline. |
| Kinesiophobia | Baseline. | The investigators measure the kinesiophobia with Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-11) at baseline. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed