Dry Needling + Exercises for Neck Pain

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Ray Lunasin, PT, DPT, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Mayo Clinic

Disqualifiers: Cancer, Neuropathic pain, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 weeks

20 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of dry needling with electrical stimulation (DNES) on sleep quality, symptom severity, and function in individuals with restless legs syndrome.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is dry needling combined with exercises safe for treating neck pain?

Research on dry needling for neck pain suggests it is generally safe, with no major safety concerns reported in the studies. However, as with any treatment, there may be minor side effects like temporary soreness or bruising at the needle site. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Home Exercise Program with Dry Needling unique for treating neck pain?

The Home Exercise Program combined with Dry Needling is unique because it integrates a personalized exercise plan with dry needling, a technique that involves inserting thin needles into specific muscle points to relieve pain. This approach is different from standard treatments as it combines at-home exercises with a specialized needling technique, although studies suggest that adding dry needling may not provide additional benefits over exercise and manual therapy alone. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Dry Needling + Exercises for Neck Pain?

Research suggests that adding dry needling to other treatments like exercise and manual therapy does not provide additional benefits for neck pain relief. Studies have shown that dry needling combined with physical therapy does not significantly improve pain or disability compared to physical therapy alone. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ray Lunasin, PT, DPT, PhD

Principal Investigator

Mayo Clinic

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with chronic neck pain lasting over 3 months and sleep problems, as indicated by a score of 8 or higher on the Insomnia Severity Index. It's not suitable for pregnant individuals, those lacking English proficiency to complete surveys, people involved in neck pain litigation, or those with central nervous system disorders, prior neck surgery, systemic joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, serious conditions such as cancer or immunocompromised states.

Inclusion Criteria

I have trouble sleeping, scoring 8 or more on the Insomnia Severity Index.

I have had neck pain for more than 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a condition like rheumatoid arthritis affecting my joints.

I have a disorder affecting my brain or nerves.

Insufficient English-language skills to complete all questionnaires

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive dry needling with electrical stimulation to the lower extremities

3 weeks

Weekly visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in symptom severity, sleep quality, and quality of life

8 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Dry Needling
• Home Exercise Program

Trial Overview The study investigates if combining dry needling with a home exercise program can improve sleep quality and duration for people suffering from long-term neck pain and disturbed sleep. Participants will receive both treatments and their effects on sleep will be compared.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Dry needling with electrical stimulation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants with restless legs syndrome will receive dry needling with electrical stimulation to the lower extremities

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Mayo Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,427

Recruited

3,221,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Combining dry needling with other physical therapy interventions significantly reduces pain intensity in the short-term and midterm for individuals with neck pain related to trigger points, with a standardized mean difference of -1.46 at short-term.

The combination also shows a small positive effect on pain-related disability and improves pressure pain thresholds in the short-term, but no significant long-term benefits were observed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is Dry Needling Effective When Combined with Other Therapies for Myofascial Trigger Points Associated with Neck Pain Symptoms? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Fernández-De-Las-Peñas, C., Plaza-Manzano, G., Sanchez-Infante, J., et al.[2023]

Dry needling significantly reduces pain intensity in individuals with neck pain associated with trigger points, showing immediate and short-term benefits compared to sham treatments and other physical interventions, based on a review of 28 trials.

The evidence suggests that dry needling can improve pain-related disability in the short term, but it does not show significant effects on cervical range of motion or pressure pain sensitivity compared to other therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Dry Needling for Myofascial Trigger Points Associated with Neck Pain Symptoms: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Navarro-Santana, MJ., Sanchez-Infante, J., Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, C., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Immediate Effects of Adding Dry Needling to Thoracic Manipulation and Exercise in Cervical Range of Motion for Adults With Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dry Needling Adds No Benefit to the Treatment of Neck Pain: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial With 1-Year Follow-up. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dry Needling Combined With Guideline-Based Physical Therapy Provides No Added Benefit in the Management of Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is Dry Needling Effective When Combined with Other Therapies for Myofascial Trigger Points Associated with Neck Pain Symptoms? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2023]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-Term Effects of Dry Needling with a Standard Exercise Program on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of dry needling for chronic nonspecific neck pain: a randomized, single-blinded, clinical trial. [2022]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Dry Needling for Myofascial Trigger Points Associated with Neck Pain Symptoms: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2020]

8. Spain pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Efficacy of dry needling in neck pain compared with other physiotherapy techniques: A systematic review]. [2020]