Pain education boosts physio for chronic muscle pain

NCT ID NCT07410221

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

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

Summary

This study tested whether adding pain neuroscience education (PNE) to standard physiotherapy helps people with myofascial pain syndrome, a condition causing muscle knots and pain. Forty adults aged 18-50 were split into two groups: one got only physiotherapy, the other also received weekly PNE sessions for 6 weeks. Researchers measured pain, pressure sensitivity, and emotional factors like catastrophizing and fear of movement.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Pain neuroscience education (PNE) plus conventional physiotherapy (TENS, ultrasound)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a more effective way to manage chronic muscle pain by combining education with standard therapy.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with only 40 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and the added benefit of education may be modest.

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

Jun 2022

Finished

Jul 2023

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 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 * Diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome by a physician * Presence of a taut band detected by palpation * Referred pain elicited by compression of trigger points * Local twitch response induced by transverse palpation of the taut band * Age between 18-65 years * Voluntary patients with symptoms lasting at least 6 months Exclusion Criteria * Skin lesions or history of head trauma preventing study participation * Ongoing or previous cancer treatment * Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes mellitus * History of fracture involving the upper extremities or cervical region * History of trauma or surgery in the cervical or upper extremity region * Known rheumatological disease * Receipt of physical therapy within the last 6 months * Presence of other cervical pathologies causing neck or back pain apart from MPS * Pregnancy

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

agnosia Kinesiophobia myofascial pain syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Myofascial pain syndromes Neuroscience pain education Physical therapy modalities

Pain education boosts physio for chronic muscle pain

What the study statuses mean