Dry Needling Versus Strain-counterstrain on the Upper Trapezius (DNJ)

Dry Needling Versus Strain Counterstrain Technique: Pilot Study Comparing Effects Over the Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Point

This study investigates the effect of two different techniques (dry needling and Strain-counterstrain manual technique) on the upper trapezius myofascial trigger point (MTP). Subjects with active or latent MTP in this location of the muscle will be identified and will be randomly assigned to one out of three groups: dry needling, strain-counterstrain or placebo manual technique. Pain pressure threshold, provoked pain, pain at rest, neck disability and electromyography (EMG) activity of the upper trapezius will be registered before and after six sessions of treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Dry needling; Other: Strain-counterstrain technique; Other: Placebo manual technique

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 39
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Valencia
    • Moncada, Valencia, Spain, 46113
      • Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active myofascial trigger point at the upper trapezius

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed fibromyalgia
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Facial neuralgia
• Coagulation alteration
• Cancer
• Allergy (included needles)
• History of cervical or shoulder surgery
• History of deep venous thrombosis
• History of myopathy
• History of infiltration at upper trapezius trigger point
• Anticoagulant medication
• Aspirin intake during the last 3 days
• Drug intake (AINES, narcotics, antiepileptics, or any other analgesic medication)
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dry Needling of trigger point; Deep dry needling will be applied on the upper trapezius myofascial trigger point	Other: Dry needling; Deep dry needling until achieving twitch response of the muscle
Experimental: Strain-counterstraing technique; This manual technique will be applied at the upper trapezius.	Other: Strain-counterstrain technique; A manual technique to release tension of painful muscles.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo manual technique; A technique simulating strain-counterstrain, but without any therapeutic manoeuvre will be applied at the upper trapezius site.	Other: Placebo manual technique; A placebo technique, consisting of manual contact of the therapist with the patient without any further therapeutic approach

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Pressure Threshold	Amount of pressure (Kg/cm2) applied at the myofascial trigger point site that elicit pain for the patient will be reported. Analogy pressure algometer(Wagner, FPK 20) will be used.	6 sessions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain at rest	Visual Analogue Scale	6 sessions
Neck Disability	Neck Disability Index	6 sessions
Electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius	Surface EMG will be recorded (MP 100 de BIOPAC Systems; Goleta, California, USA). Electrodes will be located to register activity of the Upper trapezius, according to Surface ElectroMyoGraphy for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM) guidelines. Microvolts of activity at rest will be recorded. Data will be normalized through calculation of maximal voluntary contraction, so that final data will be reported as a percentage.	6 sessions

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cardenal Herrera University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eva Segura-Ortí, PhD, Cardenal Herrera University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Segura-Orti E, Prades-Vergara S, Manzaneda-Pina L, Valero-Martinez R, Polo-Traverso JA. Trigger point dry needling versus strain-counterstrain technique for upper trapezius myofascial trigger points: a randomised controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2016 Jun;34(3):171-7. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2015-010868. Epub 2016 Jan 8.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): February 7, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 14, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2014
• Last Verified: May 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: CEU UCH 203