Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Health related quality of life improvement in chronic non-specific neck pain: secondary analysis from a single blinded, randomized clinical trial

Authors: Ester Cerezo-Téllez, María Torres-Lacomba, Orlando Mayoral-del-Moral, Soraya Pacheco-da-Costa, David Prieto-Merino, Beatriz Sánchez-Sánchez

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Chronic non-specific neck pain is related to limited cervical mobility, impaired function, neck muscles myofascial pain syndrome, and stress at work. The aforementioned factors are strongly related and may lead to a negative impact on health-related quality of life. There are some effective conservative Physical therapy interventions for treating chronic non-specific neck pain. Currently, Deep Dry Needling is emerging as an alternative for improving symptoms and consequently, the quality of life in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of Deep Dry Needling of myofascial trigger points on health-related quality of life improvement, as a secondary analysis, in people with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Methods

A randomized parallel-group blinded controlled clinical trial was conducted at a public Primary Health Care Centre in Madrid, Spain, from January 2011 to September 2014. One hundred thirty subjects with chronic non-specific neck pain and active myofascial trigger points in neck muscles were randomly allocated into two groups. Subjects in the intervention group (n = 65) were treated with Deep Dry Needling in active myofascial trigger points plus stretching in neck muscles; Control group (n = 65) received only stretching. Both interventions lasted 2 weeks, 2 sessions per week. Health-related quality of life was measured with Short Form-36 (SF-36), in 5 assessments: at baseline, after intervention period; and at 1, 3 and 6 months after intervention.

Results

For both groups, SF-36 mean values increased in all dimensions in every assessment. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in favor of the intervention group for all dimensions at the last assessment. For some dimensions (physical function, physical role, social function and vitality), the evidence was more consistent from the beginning.

Conclusions

Deep Dry Needling plus stretching is more effective than stretching alone for Health-related quality of life improvement, especially for physical function, physical role, social function and vitality dimensions, in people with non-specific neck pain.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN22726482. Registered 9 October 2011.
Literature
1.
Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C, Alonso-Blanco C, Hernandez-Barrera V, Palacios-Cena D, Jimenez-Garcia R, Carrasco-Garrido P. Has the prevalence of neck pain and low back pain changed over the last 5 years? A population-based national study in Spain. Spine J. 2013;13:1069–76.CrossRef
2.
Mesas AE, Gonzalez AD, Mesas CE, de Andrade SM, Magro IS, del Llano J. The association of chronic neck pain, low back pain, and migraine with absenteeism due to health problems in Spanish workers. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014;39:1243–53.CrossRef
3.
Palacios-Cena D, Alonso-Blanco C, Hernandez-Barrera V, Carrasco-Garrido P, Jimenez-Garcia R, Fernandez-de-las-Penas C. Prevalence of neck and low back pain in community-dwelling adults in Spain: an updated population-based national study (2009/10-2011/12). Eur Spine J. 2015;24:482–92.CrossRef
4.
Cerezo-Tellez E, Torres-Lacomba M, Fuentes-Gallardo I, Perez-Munoz M, Mayoral-Del-Moral O, Lluch-Girbes E, Prieto-Valiente L, Falla D. Effectiveness of dry needling for chronic nonspecific neck pain: a randomized, single-blinded, clinical trial. Pain. 2016;157:1905–17.CrossRef
5.
Cerezo-Tellez E, Torres-Lacomba M, Mayoral-Del Moral O, Sanchez-Sanchez B, Dommerholt J, Gutierrez-Ortega C. Prevalence of myofascial pain syndrome in chronic non-specific neck pain: a population-based cross-sectional descriptive study. Pain Med. 2016;17:2369–77.CrossRef
6.
Lame IE, Peters ML, Vlaeyen JW, Kleef M, Patijn J. Quality of life in chronic pain is more associated with beliefs about pain, than with pain intensity. Eur J Pain. 2005;9:15–24.CrossRef
7.
Gross AR, Paquin JP, Dupont G, Blanchette S, Lalonde P, Cristie T, Graham N, Kay TM, Burnie SJ, Gelley G, et al. Exercises for mechanical neck disorders: a Cochrane review update. Man Ther. 2016;24:25–45.CrossRef
8.
Cunha ACV, Burke TN, França FJR, Marques AP. Effect of global posture reeducation and of static stretching on pain, range of motion, and quality of life in women with chronic neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Clinics. 2008;63:763–70.PubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Ylinen J, Kautiainen H, Wiren K, Hakkinen A. Stretching exercises vs manual therapy in treatment of chronic neck pain: a randomized, controlled cross-over trial. J Rehabil Med. 2007;39:126–32.CrossRef
10.
Hoving JL, Koes BW, de Vet HC, van der Windt DA, Assendelft WJ, van Mameren H, Deville WL, Pool JJ, Scholten RJ, Bouter LM. Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:713–22.CrossRef
11.
Childs JD, Clealand JA, Elliot JM, Teihen DS, Wainner JS, Whitman J, Sopky BJ, Godges JJ, Flynn TW. Neck pain:clinical practice guidelines linked to the international classification of functioning, disability, and health from the Orthopaedic section of the American Physical Therapy Association. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008;38:A1–A34.CrossRef
12.
Hou CR, Tsai LC, Cheng KF, Chung KC, Hong CZ. Immediate effects of various physical therapeutic modalities on cervical myofascial pain and trigger-point sensitivity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002;83:1406–14.CrossRef
13.
Sihawong R, Janwantanakul P, Sitthipornvorakul E, Pensri P. Exercise therapy for office workers with nonspecific neck pain: a systematic review. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2011;34:62–71.CrossRef
14.
Tunwattanapong P, Kongkasuwan R, Kuptniratsaikul V. The effectiveness of a neck and shoulder stretching exercise program among office workers with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2016;30:64–72.CrossRef
15.
16.
Aguilera FJ, Martin DP, Masanet RA, Botella AC, Soler LB, Morell FB. Immediate effect of ultrasound and ischemic compression techniques for the treatment of trapezius latent myofascial trigger points in healthy subjects: a randomized controlled study. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2009;32:515–20.CrossRef
17.
Dommerholt J, Finnegan M, Hooks T, Grieve R. A critical overview of the current myofascial pain literature - September 2016. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016;20:879–92.CrossRef
18.
Ma C, Wu S, Li G, Xiao X, Mai M, Yan T. Comparison of miniscalpel-needle release, acupuncture needling, and stretching exercise to trigger point in myofascial pain syndrome. Clin J Pain. 2010;26:251–7.CrossRef
19.
Sarrafzadeh J, Ahmadi A, Yassin M. The effects of pressure release, phonophoresis of hydrocortisone, and ultrasound on upper trapezius latent myofascial trigger point. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012;93:72–7.CrossRef
20.
21.
Dommerholt J, Mayoral O, Gröbli C. Trigger point dry needling. J Man Manip Ther. 2006;14:70–87.CrossRef
22.
Llamas-Ramos R, Pecos-Martin D, Gallego-Izquierdo T, Llamas-Ramos I, Plaza-Manzano G, Ortega-Santiago R, Cleland J, Fernandez-de-Las-Penas C. Comparison of the short-term outcomes between trigger point dry needling and trigger point manual therapy for the management of chronic mechanical neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014;44:852–61.CrossRef
23.
Mayoral del Moral O. Dry needling treatments for myofascial trigger points. J Muscoskel Pain. 2010;18:411–6.CrossRef
24.
Pecos-Martin D, Montanez-Aguilera FJ, Gallego-Izquierdo T, Urraca-Gesto A, Gomez-Conesa A, Romero-Franco N, Plaza-Manzano G. Effectiveness of dry needling on the lower trapezius in patients with mechanical neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015;96:775–81.CrossRef
25.
Salo PK, Hakkinen AH, Kautiainen H, Ylinen JJ. Effect of neck strength training on health-related quality of life in females with chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled 1-year follow-up study. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2010;8:48.CrossRef
26.
Ris I, Sogaard K, Gram B, Agerbo K, Boyle E, Juul-Kristensen B. Does a combination of physical training, specific exercises and pain education improve health-related quality of life in patients with chronic neck pain? A randomised control trial with a 4-month follow up. Man Ther. 2016;26:132–40.CrossRef
27.
Salo P, Ylonen-Kayra N, Hakkinen A, Kautiainen H, Malkia E, Ylinen J. Effects of long-term home-based exercise on health-related quality of life in patients with chronic neck pain: a randomized study with a 1-year follow-up. Disabil Rehabil. 2012;34:1971–7.CrossRef
28.
Thienhaus O, Cole BE. Pain management: A practical guide for clinicians. In: Weiner RS, editor. Classification of pain. 6th ed. Danvers: American Academy of Pain Management; 2002.
29.
Simons DG, Travell JG, Simons LS. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction. The Trigger Point Manual. Upper Half of Body. 2 edn. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1999.
30.
Alonso J, Prieto L, Anto JM. The Spanish version of the SF-36 health survey (the SF-36 health questionnaire): an instrument for measuring clinical results. Med Clin (Barc). 1995;104:771–6.
31.
Campa-Moran I, Rey-Gudin E, Fernandez-Carnero J, Paris-Alemany A, Gil-Martinez A, Lerma Lara S, Prieto-Baquero A, Alonso-Perez JL, La Touche R. Comparison of dry needling versus orthopedic manual therapy in patients with myofascial chronic neck pain: a single-blind, randomized pilot study. Pain Res Treat. 2015;2015:327307.PubMedPubMedCentral
32.
Tekin L, Akarsu S, Durmus O, Cakar E, Dincer U, Kiralp MZ. The effect of dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Clin Rheumatol. 2012;32:309–15.CrossRef
33.
Andrade-Ortega JA, Cerón-Fernández E, Ribeiro-González M, García-Llorent R, Almécija-Ruiz R, Delgado-Martínez AD. Pain, disability and quality of life in chronic nonspecific neck pain. Phys Med Rehabil Int. 2016;3:1094.
34.
Carreon LY, Glassman SD, Campbell MJ, Anderson PA. Neck disability index, short form-36 physical component summary, and pain scales for neck and arm pain: the minimum clinically important difference and substantial clinical benefit after cervical spine fusion. Spine J. 2010;10:469–74.CrossRef
35.
Lauche R, Langhorst J, Dobos GJ, Cramer H. Clinically meaningful differences in pain, disability and quality of life for chronic nonspecific neck pain - a reanalysis of 4 randomized controlled trials of cupping therapy. Complement Ther Med. 2013;21:342–7.CrossRef
36.
Munoz-Munoz S, Munoz-Garcia MT, Alburquerque-Sendin F, Arroyo-Morales M, Fernandez-de-las-Penas C. Myofascial trigger points, pain, disability, and sleep quality in individuals with mechanical neck pain. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2012;35:608–13.CrossRef
37.
Alonso J, Regidor E, Barrio G, Prieto L, Rodriguez C, de la Fuente L. Population reference values of the Spanish version of the health questionnaire SF-36. Med Clin (Barc). 1998;111:410–6.
38.
Côte P, Kristman V, Vidmar M, Van Eerd D, Hogg-Johnson S, Beaton D, Smith PM. The prevalence and incidence of work absenteeism involving neck pain: a cohort of Ontario lost-time claimants. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008;33:S192–8.CrossRef
39.
Cote P, van der Velde G, Cassidy JD, Carroll LJ, Hogg-Johnson S, Holm LW, Carragee EJ, Haldeman S, Nordin M, Hurwitz EL, et al. The burden and determinants of neck pain in workers: results of the bone and joint decade 2000-2010 task force on neck pain and its associated disorders. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2009;32:S70–86.CrossRef
40.
Picavet HS, Hoeymans N. Health related quality of life in multiple musculoskeletal diseases: SF-36 and EQ-5D in the DMC3 study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004;63:723–9.CrossRef
41.
Groeneweg R, Haanstra T, Bolman CAW, Oostendorp RAB, van Tulder MW, Ostelo R. Treatment success in neck pain: the added predictive value of psychosocial variables in addition to clinical variables. Scand J Pain. 2017;14:44–52.CrossRef
42.
Castro M. Tratamiento del síndrome de dolor miofascial con toxina botulínica. Rev Soc Esp Dolor. 2006;13:96–102.
43.
Noormohammadpour P, Tayyebi F, Mansournia MA, Sharafi E, Kordi R. A concise rehabilitation protocol for sub-acute and chronic non-specific neck pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2017;21:472–80.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Health related quality of life improvement in chronic non-specific neck pain: secondary analysis from a single blinded, randomized clinical trial
Authors
Ester Cerezo-Téllez
María Torres-Lacomba
Orlando Mayoral-del-Moral
Soraya Pacheco-da-Costa
David Prieto-Merino
Beatriz Sánchez-Sánchez
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-018-1032-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2018 Go to the issue

Short report

When do patient reported quality of life indicators become prognostic in breast cancer?

Research

Health related quality of life in patients with community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia in France

Research

Descriptive and psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Weiss functional impairment rating scale: parent report form in Iranian children

Research

Clinical validity and diagnostic accuracy of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey in Sri Lanka

Research

Fitness as mediator between weight status and dimensions of health-related quality of life

Review

Dimensionality of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a systematic review