Effect of Dry Needling on Muscle Mechanical Properties and Muscle Contractility in Latent Trigger Points

Effects of Dry Needling on Stiffness in Latent Trigger Points a Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine whether application of Dry Needling (DN) is effective for improved Muscle Mechanical Properties and Muscle Contractility in Latent Trigger Points point (LTrP) of upper trapezius. Randomized controlled trial, in parallel with cross-control design. Two groups with LTrP in upper trapezius, and will be randomly selected to DN group or Sham-Dn group.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Control-Dry Needling; Device: Intervention-Dry Needling

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Toledo, Spain, 45071
    • Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 30 years
• The presence of LTrP in the middle third of the upper trapezius muscle on the dominant side
• Being able to provide written informed consent
• Being able to follow instructions and realize clinical tests

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any pharmacological therapeutic
• Any medical treatment or physical therapies at cervical region during the 6-month before this study - Any diagnosed health problem
• Any history of head and upper extremity surgery or trauma
• Any red flags to DN, (ie: metabolic diseases, pregnancy, kinesiophobia, Infection, cancer)
• Absence of recurrent history of neck pain
• No neck pain symptomatology the previous 6 months
• Cervical disk herniation

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: Deep Dry Needling; Intervention-Dry Needling: Deep Dry Needing into the latent trigger point of the upper trapezius muscle	Device: Intervention-Dry Needling; Deep Dry Needling into the site of the latent Trigger Point of the upper trapezius muscle. 1 session in upper trapezius muscle moving the needle up and down ten times.
Sham Comparator: Sham Dry Needling; Control-Dry Needling: Sham Dry Needling into the latent trigger point of the upper trapezius muscle	Device: Control-Dry Needling; Sham Dry Needling into the site of the latent Trigger Point of the upper trapezius muscle with non-penetrating needles

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Stiffness	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. Stiffness reflects the resistance of the muscle to the force deforming the muscle.	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Maximal Radial Displacement (Dm)	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. The variable Dm is given by the radial displacement of the muscular belly in a transverse plane, expressed in millimeters (mm) and depends on muscle tone or stiffness. A low Dm is related to a high muscle tone or an excess of stiffness, while a high Dm value indicates a lack of muscle tone or stiffness defect.	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Oscillation Frequency	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. The frequency of the damped oscillations characterizes the muscle tone.	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Decrement (elasticity)	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro.The logarithmic decrement of the damping oscillations characterizes muscle elasticity which is the ability of the muscle to restore its initial shape after contraction	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time [ms]	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. Mechanical Stress Relaxation Time [ms] is the time for a muscle to recover tis shape from deformation after a voluntary contraction or a removal of an external force.	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Ratio of deformation and Relaxation time, characterising Creep (Deborah number)	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named MyotonPro. Ratio of deformation and Relaxation time, characterising Creep (Deborah number) is the gradual elongation of a tissue over time when placed under a constant tensile stress.	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Contraction time (Tc)	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Contraction time (Tc) as a time between 10% and 90% of the contraction	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Delay time (Td)	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Delay time (Td) as a time between the electrical impulse and 10% of the contraction	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Sustain time (Ts)	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Sustain time (Ts) as a time between 50% of the contraction and 50% of the relaxation	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Relaxation time (Tr)	This outcome measure is obtained by a device named Tensiomiography. Relaxation time (Tr) as a time between 90% and 50% of the relaxation	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment
Change in Pressure Pain Perception (PPP)	Change in Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) as assessed using an manual mechanical algometer. The procedure performed was the same as the prior described, but pressure was kept until 2.5 kg/cm2 and maintained for 5 seconds, whereas the subject had to characterize the level of pain using a 10-mm visual analog scale (VAS)	Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Castilla-La Mancha
• Investigators: Study Director: Javier Abián-Vicén, PhD, Castilla-La Mancha University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Sanchez-Infante J, Bravo-Sanchez A, Jimenez F, Abian-Vicen J. Effects of dry needling on mechanical and contractile properties of the upper trapezius with latent myofascial trigger points: A randomized controlled trial. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2021 Dec;56:102456. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102456. Epub 2021 Sep 3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 20, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 20, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): October 20, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 6, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): July 10, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 23, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 22, 2020
• Last Verified: July 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Dry needling; Tensiomyography; Myotonometer; Latent trigger point
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: DNMYOTMG

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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