Needle vs needle: which pain treatment wins for stubborn shoulder knots?
NCT ID NCT07456735
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests three treatments for myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle: dry needling alone, dry needling plus a lidocaine injection, and a sham needling plus lidocaine. All groups also do stretching exercises. Ninety adults aged 18–65 with active trigger points will receive four weekly sessions and be followed for three months. The goal is to see which combination best reduces pain and improves daily function.
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 lidocaine injection
- What this could lead to
- If this works, it could show that combining dry needling with a local anesthetic provides better pain relief and function than dry needling alone for muscle pain.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 90 participants. The sham control may not fully blind participants, and results may not apply to other muscle groups or chronic pain conditions.
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
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 90 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Mar 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: * Being between 18 and 65 years of age * Having a diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome with at least one active trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle according to the criteria of Travell and Simons * Having signed the informed consent form regarding the study * Having a history of muscle pain with VAS \>3 persisting for at least four weeks in the same area (upper trapezius muscle) Exclusion Criteria: * Having a diagnosis of cervical disc herniation, cervical radiculopathy, or myelopathy * A history of central or peripheral nervous system disease (e.g., multiple sclerosis, stroke, peripheral neuropathy) * Diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder (major depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) or receiving active psychiatric treatment * Having bleeding diathesis, thrombocytopenia, or using anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy for any reason (e.g., warfarin, clopidogrel) * Presence of local infection at the injection site, dermatological lesions disrupting skin integrity, or signs of systemic infection * Being pregnant or breastfeeding * Having undergone injection, prolotherapy, or similar interventional treatment in the upper trapezius region within the last 6 months * Having received dry needling treatment in any region previously * A history of orthopedic or neurosurgical surgery involving the cervical spine, shoulder, or upper trapezius muscle region within the last year * Having a diagnosis of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or advanced-stage chronic disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, renal failure) * Having a diagnosis of malignancy or systemic rheumatologic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia syndrome, lupus) * Having communication difficulties, cognitive impairment, or severe visual/hearing loss that could prevent participation in the study * Having social/logistical barriers (e.g., transportation difficulties) that would prevent regular participation in the study process
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, ÜSKÜDAR, 34674, Turkey (Türkiye)
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