Immediate effects of dry needling on pain sensitivity and pain modulation in patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain: a single-blinded randomized clinical trial

Marjolein Chys; Jente Bontinck; Lennard Voogt; Gracia María Gallego Sendarrubias; Barbara Cagnie; Mira Meeus; Kayleigh De Meulemeester

doi:10.1016/j.bjpt.2023.100481

Immediate effects of dry needling on pain sensitivity and pain modulation in patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain: a single-blinded randomized clinical trial

Braz J Phys Ther. 2023 Jan-Feb;27(1):100481. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2023.100481. Epub 2023 Jan 24.

Authors

Marjolein Chys¹, Jente Bontinck², Lennard Voogt³, Gracia María Gallego Sendarrubias⁴, Barbara Cagnie⁵, Mira Meeus⁶, Kayleigh De Meulemeester²

Affiliations

¹ Spine, Head and Pain Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Gent 9000, Belgium. Electronic address: Marjolein.Chys@Ugent.be.
² Spine, Head and Pain Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Gent 9000, Belgium; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be.
³ Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be; Research Centre for Health Care Innovations, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Physical Therapy, Camilo José Cela University, Madrid, Spain.
⁵ Spine, Head and Pain Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Gent 9000, Belgium.
⁶ Spine, Head and Pain Research Unit Ghent, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Gent 9000, Belgium; Pain in Motion International Research Group, www.paininmotion.be; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, MOVANT Research group, University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Abstract

Background: Dry needling is frequently used for the treatment of neck pain but knowledge about its neurophysiological central effects is scarce.

Objectives: To compare the immediate effects of a single session of dry needling (DN) and sham needling (SN) on local and distant pressure pain thresholds and conditioned pain modulation in patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain.

Method: Participants with chronic idiopathic neck pain were randomly allocated to a DN or SN group. The primary outcome measure was the pressure pain threshold (PPT) at one peripheral location: quadriceps muscle (Q). Secondary outcome measures were local PPTs at the treated (most painful) (tUT) and non-treated upper trapezius muscle (ntUT), absolute and relative conditioned pain modulation (CPM) effects and pain during hot water immersion. Patients were assessed at baseline and immediately post intervention. Linear mixed models were used to examine interaction effects as well as between- and within-group differences.

Results: Fifty-four participants were included for statistical analysis. Linear mixed model analyses showed no significant "group X time" interaction effects for any of the outcome measures. The relative CPM effect at the Q was significantly higher post-intervention, compared to baseline within the DN group (mean difference= 13.52%; 95% CI: 0.46, 26.59).

Conclusion: The present study shows no superior effect of DN, compared to SN, in the immediate effect on local and distant PPTs and CPM in patients with chronic idiopathic neck pain.

Keywords: Chronic neck pain; Dry needling; Pain modulation; Pain sensitivity.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Chronic Pain*
Dry Needling*
Humans
Neck Pain
Pain Threshold / physiology
Trigger Points