Comparison of the Effectiveness of Exercise, Dry Needling and Interfascial Block Treatments in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Exercise: Cervical range of motion and trapezius fascial stretching exercises

Dry Needling + Exercise: Cervical ROM, fascial stretching exercises for the trapezius muscles, and dry needling of the relevant fascia with Hua Long brand 0.25x25 mm disposable sterile steel acupuncture needles under ultrasound guidance.

Exercise + interfascial block: Cervical range of motion (ROM) and trapezius muscles are treated with fascial stretching exercises and ultrasound-guided interfascial injection of 1 cc of 2% lidocaine + 4 cc of 0.9% saline solution.

Study summary

This study aimed to compare interfascial block therapy with commonly used exercise therapy and conventional invasive dry needling therapy, and to evaluate its effectiveness and superiority. Another objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the short-term and long-term effectiveness of interfascial block, dry needling, and exercise therapies on pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. In this respect, our study is important in terms of its contribution to the literature.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Visual Analog Scale — before treatment, 30 minutes after the last session, and 12 weeks after the start of treatment.
  0-10 scale. Higher scores represent more severe pain.
• Cervical Range of Motion — before treatment, 30 minutes after the last session, and 12 weeks after the start of treatment.
  Will measure flexion/extension, lateral bending, rotation, protraction/retraction in degrees.
• Neck Disability Index (NDI) — before treatment, 30 minutes after the last session, and 12 weeks after the start of treatment.
  The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is a widely used self-report questionnaire that measures functional disability associated with neck pain. It consists of 10 items scored from 0 to 5, covering pain intensity and daily activities. Higher scores indicate greater disability. The NDI is commonly used in clinical practice and research to assess baseline status and monitor treatment outcomes.
• Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) — before treatment, 30 minutes after the last session, and 12 weeks after the start of treatment.
  Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) is a quantitative measure of pain sensitivity assessed using a pressure algometer. It represents the minimum amount of pressure that evokes pain. PPT is widely used in clinical and research settings to evaluate mechanical pain sensitivity, detect hyperalgesia, and monitor treatment effects. Lower PPT values indicate increased pain sensitivity, while higher values reflect reduced sensitivity.

Trial sites (1)

Other trials for the same condition