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Comparative Effect of MEP With or Without Current Emission in the Treatment of Cervical Pain in MTrPs of the Trapezius

Comparative Effect of Percutaneous Microelectrolysis With or Without Current Emission in the Treatment of Cervical Pain in Myofascial Trigger Points of the Trapezius

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05524623
Enrollment
95
Registered
2022-09-01
Start date
2022-08-16
Completion date
2023-03-30
Last updated
2023-04-19

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

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes, Neck Pain, Posterior

Keywords

neck, pain, muscles, needles, Electrolysis, electrotherapy

Brief summary

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is initial to other pathologies such as neck pain or tension headaches; the symptoms that are located on the area of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) of specific references in different muscles. MTrPs are palpable, tense bands found in stiff muscle that cause pain and swelling. They affect the disruptive soft tissues, resulting in deterioration of the muscle and fascia; effects that can be transferred further, through the myofascial chain to distant tissues, inducing the referred pain that is the main feature of MPS. MTrPs are treated with stretching, massage, analgesics, acupuncture, dry needling, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound. Percutaneous microelectrolysis (MEP®) is a new technique that uses galvanic current of low intensity and high density. Based on the previous reviews, the investigators consider that the use of MEP in individuals who have MTrPs in the trapezius is more effective than acupuncture treatment. Objectives: To assess the effect of MEP as a technique for treating pain in MTrPs of the trapezius muscle compared to without current emission, analyzing function, pain and strength in MTrPs before and after both treatments.

Detailed description

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is initial to other pathologies such as neck pain or tension headaches; the symptoms that are located on the area of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) of specific references in different muscles. MTrPs are palpable, tense bands found in stiff muscle that cause pain and swelling. They affect the disruptive soft tissues, resulting in deterioration of the muscle and fascia; effects that can be transferred further, through the myofascial chain to distant tissues, inducing the referred pain that is the main feature of MPS. MTrPs are treated with stretching, massage, analgesics, acupuncture, dry needling, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound. Percutaneous microelectrolysis (MEP®) is a new technique that uses galvanic current of low intensity and high density. Based on the previous reviews, the investigators consider that the use of MEP in individuals who have MTrPs in the trapezius is more effective than acupuncture treatment. Objectives: To assess the effect of MEP as a technique for treating pain in MTrPs of the trapezius muscle compared to without current emission, analyzing function, pain and strength in MTrPs before and after both treatments. Materials and methods: Randomized controlled clinical research. The study population consists of patients of both sexes between 20 and 60 years of age, with medical referral for neck pain who do not currently receive physiotherapeutic treatment, pain of at least 1 month of evolution, presenting on both sides of the trapezius MTrPs muscle and having signed the informed consent. They will be randomly distributed into: group treated with acupuncture (control) and group treated with MEP. Both will take place over 3 weeks, with one session per week. The evaluation is carried out through the visual analogue scale (VAS), measurement of force with a dynamometer and mobility with a goniometer. The score will be recorded on a validated neck pain questionnaire (NPQ). The Chi-Square test (test) will be implemented for the analysis of categorical data and the "t" test for paired data for quantitative data, based on a significance level of p˂0.05 in all cases.

Interventions

OTHERpercutaneous microelectrolysis in myofascial trigger points of the trapezius

percutaneous microelectrolysis with or without current emission in the treatment of cervical pain in myofascial trigger points of the trapezius

Sponsors

Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Masking description

Both groups do not know if the treatment has emission or not while the sessions are carried out.

Intervention model description

percutaneous microelectrolysis with or without current emission in the treatment of cervical pain in myofascial trigger points of the trapezius. Both will take place over 3 weeks, with one session per week. The evaluation is carried out through the visual analogue scale (VAS), measurement of force with a dynamometer and mobility with a goniometer. The score will be recorded on a validated neck pain questionnaire (NPQ).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* with medical referral for pain of at least 1 month of evolution * presenting on both sides of the trapezius MTrPs muscle

Exclusion criteria

* neck pain who do currently receive physiotherapeutic treatment of at least 1 month of evolution

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnairewill take place over 3 weeks, with one session per week.The validated and adapted Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) relates to activities of daily living. The outcome measure is in Points per NPQ protocol. The questionnaire will be completed prior to treatment. Nominal variables were described by of proportions with a confidence interval of 95%; Chi-Square test (Pearson's test), based on a significance level of p˂0.05 in all cases.
Mobility with a goniometerwill take place over 3 weeks, with one session per week.The range of joint mobility of flexion, extension, inclination and rotation movements will be measured with a goniometer. The outcome measure is in degrees, before and after treatment. Evaluating the comparative effect of percutaneous microelectrolysis with or without current emission in the treatment of cervical pain in trapezius myofascial trigger points.
Objective pain measurement with a dynamometerwill take place over 3 weeks, with one session per week.It is the objective measurement of pain, through the measurement of results in the Newton (N) unit to perform force measurements and objectively evaluate the pain threshold at strategic points of the trapezius muscle, using the DINATOR® portable dynamometer. It will be measured with the dynamometer before and after treatment with or without current. Evaluated comparative effect of percutaneous microelectrolysis with or without current emission in the treatment of cervical pain in myofascial trigger points of the trapezius.
visual analogue scalewill take place over 3 weeks, with one session per week.The evaluation is carried out through the visual analogue scale (VAS) with the outcome measure from 0 to 10 (10 the worst pain experienced and 0 no pain); change from pain level to baseline pain level before and after treatment. The Chi-Square test (Pearson's test) will be implemented for the analysis of categorical data and the t test for paired data for quantitative data, based on a significance level of p˂0.05 in all cases. Evaluated comparative effect of percutaneous microelectrolysis with or without current emission in the treatment of cervical pain in myofascial trigger points of the trapezius.

Countries

Argentina

Outcome results

None listed

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