Treatment for neck pain using dry needling, manual therapy, and exercise
Efficacy of Adding Dry Needling to a Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise Interventions for Managing Neck Pain Populations: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study is testing if a combination of dry needling, manual therapy, and exercise can help adults with chronic neck pain feel better and move more easily.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Camilo Jose Cela University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Alcorcón, Madrid) |
| Trial ID | NCT05607459 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of dry needling, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise in managing chronic neck pain. Participants will receive targeted interventions aimed at myofascial trigger points in neck muscles, with the goal of reducing pain and improving function. The study will compare these active treatments against a sham dry needling procedure to assess their efficacy. Eligible participants are adults aged 18 to 65 who have experienced unilateral neck pain for at least three months and meet specific pain and disability criteria.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 65 with unilateral neck pain lasting at least three months and specific pain severity scores.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of whiplash injury, previous cervical surgery, or certain psychiatric disorders may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment approach could significantly reduce pain and disability for patients suffering from chronic neck pain.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown low to moderate evidence supporting the effectiveness of dry needling for neck pain, indicating that this approach has been explored but may still require further validation.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * To be between 18 and 65 years old * To have been experiencing unilateral neck pain for at least 3 months * To have a Neck Disability Index (NDI) score \>8 * To have a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score \>3 * To have at least one active MTrP located in the upper trapezius or cervical multifidus muscles Exclusion Criteria: * History of whiplash injury * Previous cervical surgery * Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy * Diagnosis of fibromyalgia * Additional analgesic treatments during the study (e.g. physiotherapy or drugs) * Psychiatric disorders * Any contraindication to the interventions proposed (e.g. fear of needles or anticoagulants)
Where this trial is running
Alcorcón, Madrid
- Juan Antonio Valera-Calero — Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Juan Antonio Valera Calero, PhD — Camilo José Cela University
- Study coordinator: Juan Antonio Valera-Calero, PhD
- Email: javalera@ucjc.edu
- Phone: 653 766 841
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.