Actively Recruiting
The Impact of Dry Needling on Electrophysiological and Ultrasound-based Biomarkers for Myofascial Pain
Led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Updated on 2026-02-24
70
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
134 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
B
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Lead Sponsor
M
Massachusetts General Hospital
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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
CONDITIONS
Official Title
The Impact of Dry Needling on Electrophysiological and Ultrasound-based Biomarkers for Myofascial Pain
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Ages 18-80
- Presence of active trigger points involving the upper trapezius muscle
- Ability to manage breakthrough pain using acetaminophen only, excluding stable doses of other pain medications which can be continued
You will not qualify if you...
- Multiple active trigger points in the trapezius muscle interfering with pain improvement detection
- Cervical radicular pain or neuromuscular conditions affecting data interpretation
- Fibromyalgia or other generalized pain conditions
- Opioid usage within past 3 months
- Active substance use disorder
- Unstable or unwilling to maintain stable doses of certain medications (SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, alpha 2 delta ligands, specific anti-epileptics, or other listed drugs)
- Skin allergy or sensitivity preventing use of adhesive electrodes
- Significant systemic or psychiatric illness interfering with participation
- Use of anticoagulants like coumadin, clopidogrel, or direct oral anticoagulants (aspirin allowed)
- Needle-based trigger point therapy in past 6 weeks on the studied area
- Body mass index over 35 kg/m2
- Other factors interfering with study procedures as judged by investigator
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
Not Yet Recruiting
2
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
Actively Recruiting
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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