CompletedNot Applicable

Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation on Upper Trapezius With Trigger Points

United Arab Emirates36 participantsStarted 2023-10-28

Plain-language summary

The prevalence of myofascial pain ranges from 30 to 93% and can result in sensorimotor and autonomic deficits. In routine neuromuscular electrical stimulation, conventional electrode placement (CEP) and inverse electrode placement (IEP) are used to deliver electrical stimulation for pain modulation. However, Whether pain modulation can be achieved better from the intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) using the inverse electrode placement (IEP) or the conventional electrode placement (CEP) is still an open issue. Thus, current study's aim to compare the effects of IMES using IEP and CEP, and sham-IMES on pressure pain threshold (PPT), EMG activity, upper trapezius (UT) muscle length and pain severity in the UT muscle with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) among young adults.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 25 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: * Clinical diagnosis of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius (UT) muscle. * Pressure pain threshold range between 0.5 to 1.5 kg/cm2 Exclusion Criteria: * Shoulder conditions such as adhesive capsulitis, impingement syndrome, etc. * Individuals with cervical radiculopathy, * Nutritional deficiencies, * Metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, * Participation in strength training, * Cardiac pacemakers, * History of migraine, epilepsy, electrophobia, needle phobia, skin diseases.

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

Pressure pain threshold (PPT)

Timeframe: Day one before the treatment, day one post treatment and day three follow-up

Upper trapezius' Surface Electromyographic activity

Timeframe: Day one before the treatment, day one post treatment and day three follow-up

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06604962

SponsorGulf Medical University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-03-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Myofacial Pain Syndrome trials