Effects of Dry Needling on Stiffness in Latent Trigger Points

University of Castilla-La Mancha51 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine whether application of Dry Needling (DN) is effective for reduced on Stiffness in Latent trigger point (LTrP) of upper trapezius. The secondary purposes are to determine the correlation on two elastography for stiffness measure (Shear-wave elastography and Strain elastography). 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 Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Trigger Points

Interventions

Intervention-Dry NeedlingDEVICE

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.

Control-Dry NeedlingDEVICE

Sham Dry Needling into the site of the latent Trigger Point of the upper trapezius muscle with non-penetrating needles 1 session in upper trapezius muscle moving the needle up and down ten times.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 30 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (1)

Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory

Toledo, Spain

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change on Stiffness (Shear wave elastography and Strain Elastography)

Shear-wave Elastography (SWE) as assessed using an Logiq S8 US system (GE Healthcare). The stiffness was determined with measuring velocity of shear waves in trapezius muscle on SWE exam. Strain elastography (SEL) as assessed using an Logiq S8 US system (GE Healthcare). The stiffness was determined by applying light repetitive compression with the hand-held transducer

Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT)

Pressure-Pain Threshold as assessed by an manual mechanical algometer. PPT is the minimal amount of pressure that produces pain and is used to assess abnormalities in nociceptive processing or hyperalgesia.

Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

Change in Thickness of muscle

The muscle was scanned in the longitudinal and axial planes, taking care to avoid anisotropy. B-Mode gray scale was employed to measure muscle thickness

Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

Change in Post-needling soreness

The procedure performed was the subject had to characterize the level of pain using a visual analog scale (VAS), ranging from 0mm (no pain) to 10mm (worst imaginable pain)

Time frame: Baseline, at 30 minutes after treatment, at 24 hours after treatment, at 72 hours after treatment

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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