The Impact of Dry Needling on Electrophysiological and Ultrasound-based Biomarkers for Myofascial Pain
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Summary
The goal of this interventional study is to determine how well dry-needling can treat pain in people with Myofascial Pain Syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does dry needling improve pain for people with a trigger point (a tender, tight spot in the muscle)? * How well can Electrical Impedence Myography (EIM), Myofiber Threshold Tracking (TT), and Ultrasound (US) detect changes in the muscle related to dry needling treatment? Researchers will compare dry needling to a placebo (a treatment that does not enter the trigger point) to see if dry needling works to treat Myofascial Pain Syndrome with trigger points in the trapezius muscle (the muscle that extends over the back of the neck and shoulders), as measured by these three outcome measures (EIM, US, TT). Participants will: * Visit the clinic twice: once to receive dry needling treatment, and once for a follow-up * Have muscle measurements taken before treatment and at follow-up * Have a daily survey to record the intensity of their pain
Description
Pre-Screening: Participants will be pre-screened to assess eligibility. The questionnaire can be completed on the phone, online in a survey, or in person. Medical records will also be reviewed. Eligible participants will schedule an on-site visit. Study Visit #1: In most cases the following sessions will occur on one day, unless due to scheduling conflicts separate sessions must be scheduled. 1. Eligibility \& Screening: Baseline review of medical history and medication will be done to ensure eligibility. Informed consent will be taken from participants. Demographic data will be taken. Thi…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 18-80 * Presence of active trigger points with involvement of upper trapezius * Able to manage breakthrough pain with acetaminophen only, excluding stable doses of pain medications at time of enrollment, which can be continued Exclusion Criteria: * Multiple active trigger points in the trapezius muscle if physician assessment concludes that this may interfere with subject's ability to detect changes in pain improvement from trigger point therapy * Presence of cervical radicular pain, superimposed neuromuscular disease or condition that, in the opinion of the inves…
Interventions
- ProcedureDry Needling
A physical therapy and pain management technique where a small is inserted into a trigger point (tight, tender spots in the muscle that cause pain) and maneuvered to provide pain relief.
- ProcedureSham Treatment
Treatment where a sham treatment will be administered which does not directly target the trigger point. Subjects will not be able to tell the difference between dry needling and sham treatment.
Locations (2)
- Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, Massachusetts
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterBoston, Massachusetts