title: Effectiveness of Different Deep Dry Needling Dosages in the Treatment of Patients With Cervical Myofascial Pain: A Pilot RCT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of different dosages of local twitch responses (LTRs) elicited by deep dry needling (DDN) in relation to pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), cervical range of movement (CROM), and disability degree in cervical myofascial pain patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four patients (21 males, 63 females; 27.18 ± 10.91 yrs) with cervical pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  DDN in active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the upper trapezius. Patients were randomly divided into four groups: (a) no LTRs elicited, (b) four LTRs elicited, (c) six LTRs elicited, and (d) needling until no more LTRs were elicited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain intensity, PPT, CROM, and disability degree were assessed before treatment, post-immediate, 48 hrs, 72 hrs, and 1 wk after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found in the time factor for all the variables (P < 0.005), but no significant changes were found in the group-time interaction (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DDN in the upper trapezius MTrP improved pain at a 1-wk follow-up, but improvements were not significantly different among DDN dosages. A higher number of patients with neck pain improvements superior to the moderate clinically important differences were observed when eliciting 6 LTRs and LTRs until exhaustion compared with not eliciting LTRs.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain (JF-C, LG-d-F, IA-D); Research Group on Movement and Behavioural Science and Study of Pain, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle, Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain (JF-C, JVL-H); La Paz Hospital Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain (JF-C); Grupo Multidisciplinar de Investigación y Tratamiento del Dolor, Grupo de Excelencia Investigadora URJC-Banco de Santander, Madrid, Spain (JF-C); Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Science, The Center for Advanced Studies University La Salle, Autónoma University, Madrid, Spain (JVL-H); Department of Nurse and Physical Therapy of Alcalá University, Alcalá de Henares, Spain (DP-M, TG-I); Physiotherapy and Pain Group, Alcalá de Henares, Spain (DP-M, TG-I); and Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain (AM-P-Z).
authors.forename: Josué
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Carnero
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gilarranz-de-Frutos
authors.forename: Jose Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: León-Hernández
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pecos-Martin
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alguacil-Diego
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gallego-Izquierdo
authors.forename: Aitor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín-Pintado-Zugasti
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles; D061028:Trigger Points; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult