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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Neck Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Dry needling; Other: Manual Therapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Madrid
    • Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain, 28922
      • César Fernández-de-las-Peñas

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dry needling; Patients will receive dry needling over active trigger points in the scalene muscles	Other: Dry 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.
Active Comparator: Manual Therapy; Patients will receive a manual compression for 30seconds over active trigger points in the scalene muscles	Other: Manual Therapy; The therapist will apply manual compression over active trigger points in the scalene muscles for 30 seconds

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in neck pain intensity with a numerical pain rate scale before and after the intervention	A Numerical Pain Rate Scale (NPRS, 0-10) will be used to assess spontaneous neck pain intensity	Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in oxigen saturation with a pulse oximeter before and after the intervention	Oxygen saturation will be monitored with a handheld pulse oximeter with Masimo SET® measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion™ pulse oximeter	Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention
Changes in inspiratory vital capacity with an incentive spirometer before and after the intervention	Changes in inspiratory vital capacity will be assessed with the incentive spirometer DHD Coach 2®	Baseline, one day (immediately post), 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention
Changes in neck-related disability with the Neck Disability Index before and 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	Baseline and 7 days (one week) and 30 days (one month) after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 5, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 15, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 30, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): December 3, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 9, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 7, 2019
• Last Verified: July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Neck Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: URJC 2018-12-10

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No