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Muscle Position and Dry Needling Efficacy

29 de junio de 2026 actualizado por: Prof. Dr. Daniel Pecos Martín, University of Alcala

The Importance of Muscle Position in the Effectiveness of Dry Needling Technique

Currently, no previous studies have investigated how the position of a muscle before dry needling may influence the outcome and effectiveness of the treatment.

This study aims to demonstrate whether the position of the upper trapezius muscle during dry needling treatment influences the outcome of that treatment in subjects with neck pain.

A total of 46 participants with chronic neck pain will be recruited and randomly assigned to two groups: a dry needling group with the muscle in a stretched position and a dry needling group with the muscle in a shortened position. A total of two treatment sessions will be performed, separated by a 7-day interval. The primary outcome measure will be the intensity of neck and head pain, measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). Other variables to be measured include the cervical disability index, kinesiophobia, and catastrophizing (using a self-completion questionnaire), as well as participants' expectations and post-needling pain.

Descripción general del estudio

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

80

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

  • Nombre: Daniel Pecos-Martin, PhD
  • Número de teléfono: 34918855142
  • Correo electrónico: daniel.pecos@uah.es

Ubicaciones de estudio

    • Madrid
      • Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España, 28805
        • Reclutamiento
        • Physioterapy and Pain center research
        • Contacto:
      • Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España, 2805
        • Reclutamiento
        • Clinical University Physiotherapy and pain
        • Contacto:
          • Patricia Martinez-Merinero, PhD
          • Número de teléfono: 683378391
          • Correo electrónico: clinica.fisio@fgua.es

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Adulto
  • Adulto Mayor

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 18 and 65 years
  • Neck pain lasting more than 3 months
  • Current neck pain greater than 3/10 on the VAS (Visual Analog Scale)
  • Presence of active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle, meeting the following criteria: Painful point within a taut band whose palpation reproduces the patient's symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Neck pain with a medical diagnosis (fractures, arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.)
  • Radicular pain (paresthesia, burning, electric shocks)
  • Whiplash or any recent trauma
  • Previous surgery
  • Treatment by another physiotherapist within the last 3 months
  • Infections
  • Needle phobia
  • Use of anticoagulant medications
  • Pregnancy
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Metal allergies
  • Cognitive deficits or communication problems

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Tratamiento
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
  • Enmascaramiento: Doble

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: Upper trapezius dry needling with adduction shoulder

The dry needling technique will be applied to the trapezius muscle while the subject lies prone, with the upper limb at the side of the body, shoulder lowered, in adduction and cervical region in a neutral position.

The dry needling technique will be applied using a pincer grasp, inserting the needle from the posterior to the anterior portion of the upper trapezius muscle.

Ten incisions will be made in a posteroanterior direction while the patient lies prone and the muscle is grasped with a pincer grip between the first three fingers. The technique will be applied to the area that is mechanically most hyperalgesic and related to the reproduction of the patient's pain.
Experimental: Upper trapezius dry needling with 90º abduction shoulder

The dry needling technique will be applied to the trapezius muscle while the subject lies prone, with the upper limb separated from the body, shoulder at 90 degrees of abduction and cervical region in a neutral position.

The dry needling technique will be applied using a pincer grasp, inserting the needle from the posterior to the anterior portion of the upper trapezius muscle.

Ten incisions will be made in a posteroanterior direction while the patient lies prone and the muscle is grasped with a pincer grip between the first three fingers. The technique will be applied to the area that is mechanically most hyperalgesic and related to the reproduction of the patient's pain.

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
The visual analog scale (VAS)
Periodo de tiempo: Change from baseline at 3 months
Intensity of neck and head pain: This was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). It consists of a 10 cm horizontal line, where 0 cm on the left side represents "no pain" and 10 cm on the right side represents "maximum pain." The subject marks a perpendicular line at the point they consider to represent their pain intensity. The examiner then places a millimeter ruler on the scale, assigning a numerical value to the line drawn by the patient. The VAS has proven to be a valid and reliable tool (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.71-0.99).
Change from baseline at 3 months

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Disability Associated with Neck Pain
Periodo de tiempo: Change from baseline at 3 months
The degree of disability associated with neck pain will be measured using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire in its Spanish version. The NDI is a 10-item questionnaire, and each item is scored on a scale of 0 to 5 points, with a range of 0 to 50 points. The higher the score, the greater the degree of disability. The NDI has proven to be a reliable tool (ICC 0.98).
Change from baseline at 3 months
Kinesiophobia with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TSK-11)
Periodo de tiempo: Change from baseline at 3 months
The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale (TSK-11) short version will be used to assess fear of movement. It is an 11-item scale rated on a four-point scale ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." Scores range from 11 to 44, with higher scores indicating greater fear of movement and/or (re)injury. This questionnaire has demonstrated similar properties to the original TSK scale, proving to be a valid and reliable instrument.
Change from baseline at 3 months
Catastrophizing with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)
Periodo de tiempo: Change from baseline at 3 months
Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). The PCS has 13 items scored from 0 to 4 and is composed of three subscales: rumination, magnification, and helplessness. The overall score ranges from 0 to 52. Higher scores indicate a greater degree of pain catastrophizing. A total score >30 represents a clinically significant level of pain catastrophizing. This questionnaire has been shown to be reliable (ICC 0.94).
Change from baseline at 3 months
Local twitch response (LTRs)
Periodo de tiempo: Change from baseline at 3 months
Local twitch response (LTRs). The LTRs produced by needle insertion during dry needling will be counted. LTRs are generally associated with better treatment outcomes. A higher number of LTRs indicates better results, and a lower number of LTRs indicates worse results.
Change from baseline at 3 months
Cervical joint Range
Periodo de tiempo: Change from baseline mobility at one week after intervention
Flexion, inclination, extension and rotational movement ranges will be measured with a cervical goniometer
Change from baseline mobility at one week after intervention

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Patrocinador

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Actual)

8 de junio de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

15 de septiembre de 2026

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

15 de diciembre de 2026

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

1 de junio de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

1 de junio de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

5 de junio de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

1 de julio de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

29 de junio de 2026

Última verificación

1 de junio de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

NO

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

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