Can a needle zap away chronic neck pain? three techniques put to the test
NCT ID NCT07738783
First seen Jul 31, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026
Summary
This trial tests three ultrasound-guided treatments for myofascial pain syndrome in the upper neck muscle: dry needling, lidocaine injection, and oxygen-ozone injection. About 76 adults with neck pain lasting at least three months will receive one of these treatments weekly for three weeks, plus a home exercise program. Researchers will measure pain, neck function, sleep quality, and tissue changes at four and twelve weeks to see which approach offers the most 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, lidocaine injection, or oxygen-ozone injection
- What this could lead to
- If one of these approaches proves superior, it could point toward a more effective, targeted treatment for chronic neck pain and muscle knots.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial, and results may not apply to everyone. Each treatment carries risks like temporary soreness, bleeding, or infection.
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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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
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76 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2025
- Finished
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May 2026
- 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: * Age between 18 and 65 years * Neck pain of at least 3 months' duration * Diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) according to the Simons and Travell criteria * At least one active trigger point and/or palpable taut band within the upper trapezius muscle * Reproduction of typical pain upon digital compression of the trigger point Exclusion Criteria: * Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy * Advanced degenerative cervical spine disease * History of neck trauma or surgery within the previous year * Prior injection into the trapezius muscle within the last 3 months * Systemic conditions, including fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, polyneuropathy, coagulopathy, malignant hypertension, Graves' disease, or severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count \<50,000/µL) * Cognitive impairment * Pregnancy
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Derince Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences
Kocaeli, Derince, 41300, Turkey (Türkiye)
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