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Can a needle or a gentle hold unlock a stiff neck?

NCT ID NCT07776327

Symptom relief Sponsor: University of Karachi Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Sep 02, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This trial tests two non-drug treatments for levator scapulae syndrome, a common cause of neck and shoulder pain. One is dry needling, which uses thin needles to release tight muscle knots, and the other is positional release therapy, a technique that relaxes muscles by placing them in a comfortable position. About 100 adults aged 18 to 40 with this condition will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. Researchers will measure changes in pain, neck movement, muscle strength, and quality of life to see which approach offers more relief.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Dry needling and positional release therapy
What this could lead to
If effective, these hands-on therapies could offer drug-free options for easing neck pain and improving mobility in people with levator scapulae syndrome.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial, and results may not apply to everyone. Both techniques carry minor risks like soreness or bruising, and one may not prove better than the other.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 102 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Sep 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Sep 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 40 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 18-40 years Willing to participate Having Positive Levator scapulae Test - Exclusion Criteria: Any history related to spinal surgery, Previous administration of epidural injections. Neck pain due to specific pathology, Neurological deficits (Myelopathy) and Clinical disorder contraindicated to exercise \-

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Neck muscle issue

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Sind Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

    RECRUITING

    Karachi, Sindh, 74200, Pakistan

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