CompletedNot Applicable

Effectiveness of Dry Needling Shoulder Muscles on a Head Turning Task in Participants Aged 30-45 With Neck Pain

Canada36 participantsStarted 2023-05-09

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the immediate effects of stimulating shoulder muscles with an acupuncture needle (dry needling) on people from thirty to forty-five years old with recurrent neck pain. The main questions this trial aims to answer are does dry needling tight shoulder muscles have an effect on: 1. the ability to turn your head with speed and accuracy, 2. your neck mobility, 3. pain, 4. the tenderness in the muscles, 5. change in your everyday function. Participants will be asked to undergo a dry needling intervention, then participants will be asked to complete measurements before and after the including a pain scale, neck mobility, a functional questionnaire, pressure sensitivity and movement time for a repetitive head turning task. Researchers will compare the dry needling to the sham needling to see if there is a change in the measurements pre- and post-intervention.

Who can participate

Age range

30 Years – 45 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Recurrent neck pain (with a minimum of one episode of acute neck pain corresponding to the area covered by the UT muscle in the last three months) * a minimum of one palpable tender, taut band of muscle in the upper trapezius * dry needling naïve * have normal/corrected vision required for the Fitts' task * fluent in English. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently experiencing an acute episode of neck pain, * treatment to the UT or cervical spine in the last 60 days * currently taking pain/nerve medications * presence of upper limb neurological signs or symptoms * any history of pathology, surgery to the cervical spine * trauma or accident involving the cervical spine * having general contraindications to needling (including pregnancy, acute trauma, fever or systemic infection and needle phobia) * local contraindications at the site of the needle insertion (including local infection, open wounds, burns, inflammation, cellulitis, and undiagnosed lumps) * precautions to needling (including history of bacterial endocarditis, heart valve replacement, pace-maker and near joint replacements).

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Fitts' Head Turning Task

Timeframe: 15 minutes

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05846022

SponsorUniversity of Manitoba

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-06-19

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Neck Pain trials