Immediate Stiffness Changes in Myofascial Trigger Points After Dry Needling

Immediate Stiffness Changes in Upper Trapezius Active Myofascial Trigger Points After Dry Needling in Patients With Neck Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT04832074

Acronym

ELECTROP

Enrollment

Registered

2021-04-05

Start date

2021-05-05

Completion date

2021-05-19

Last updated

2022-02-22

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

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Neck Pain, Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial

Brief summary

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) is considered as a useful tool for quantifying muscle stiffness. Considering that Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrP) are defined as hyperirritable zones in contracted bands of muscle, thought to be caused by muscle overload or stress and the effectiveness of dry needling applied to active MTrP for reducing pain and disability, the aim of this study is to assess the effects of sham and real dry needling, applied to active MTrP in the upper trapezius muscle in patients with chronic neck pain, on the muscle stiffness in two areas: 1) the most symptomatic area and 2) a control point.

Interventions

OTHERDry Needling

Real Dry Needling in the most active Myofascial Trigger Point

OTHERSham Dry Needling

Sham Dry Needling in the same location, but not piercing the skin

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Patients between 18 and 65 and * Presence of mechanical neck pain for at least three months duration * Presence of at least one active MTrP in the Upper Trapezius muscle

Exclusion criteria

* Neck pain of traumatic origin (such as whiplash-associated disorder) * Current use of any kind of analgesic therapy * Presenting any condition usually considered a perpetuating factor of MTrPs, such as fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, or iron deficiencies * Presenting any contraindication for Dry Needling application * Neuropathies (e.g., radiculopathy) * Bilateral Pain

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
SWE - Young modulus	Baseline	KPa
SWE - Local shear wave speed	Baseline	m/s
Pain Pressure Thresholds	Baseline	kg/cm2

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Visual Analogue Scale	Baseline	0-10
Neck Disability Index	Baseline	0-100

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 12, 2026