Needle therapy shows promise for stubborn neck pain

NCT ID NCT07368517

Symptom relief Sponsor: Deraya University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether dry needling—a technique where thin needles are inserted into muscle knots—combined with neck exercises can reduce pain and improve movement in people with chronic mechanical neck pain. Forty adults aged 25 to 65 were split into two groups: one received dry needling plus exercises, the other got standard treatments like TENS and ultrasound plus the same exercises. Both groups were treated three times a week for four weeks. Researchers measured changes in disability, pain sensitivity, and neck mobility to see which approach worked better.

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 (sterile needles inserted into trigger points) combined with neck exercises
What this could lead to: If dry needling proves superior, it could offer a more effective, drug-free option for easing chronic neck pain and improving mobility.
What could go wrong: This is a small, single-center trial with only 40 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and dry needling can cause temporary soreness or bruising.

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

40 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Oct 2025

Finished

Dec 2025

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

25 to 65 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: * Medically stable individuals who provide written informed consent to participate in the study. * Age between 25 and 65 years. * Both male and female participants. * Patients diagnosed with mechanical neck pain lasting more than three months. * Presence of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius or cervical muscles confirmed by palpation. * Ability to follow treatment instructions and attend all scheduled sessions. Exclusion Criteria: * History of neck surgery or cervical spine fracture. * Previous dry needling or invasive therapy for neck pain in the past six months. * History of neurological disorders (e.g., cervical radiculopathy, myelopathy). * Current acute infection, skin disease, or open wound in the neck or shoulder region. * Use of anticoagulant medication or any bleeding disorder. * Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy. * Any systemic illness (e.g., diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis) that may affect healing or pain perception.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

musculoskeletal system disorder Neck Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Cervical spine dysfunction Mechanical neck pain Musculoskeletal disorders Neck pain

Needle therapy shows promise for stubborn neck pain

What the study statuses mean