Riassunto dello studio

Forty-four patients with unilateral mechanical neck pain were randomized to receive either dry needling or percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) at the active myofascial trigger point in the levator scapulae muscle for the relief of pain and improvement in function. The outcomes of interest included pain on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores, pressure pain threshold, side-bending strength, and range of motion outcomes. Outcomes were assessed immediately post-treatment, as well as 48 hours and 1-week post-treatment. Study findings revealed no significant differences in VAS pain scores at all time-points between the dry needling and PENS treatment arms. NDI scores measured at 1 week were significantly in favour of the PENS group. The PENS group showed a significant increase in pressure pain threshold at all time-points. Neck side-bending strength, cervical extension range of motion, and cervical rotation range of motion were not significantly different between the two groups. Significant differences between the PENS group and dry needling group in cervical flexion immediately post-treatment, cervical side-bending range of motion in the painful side immediately post-treatment, and cervical side-bending range of motion in the non-painful side at 48 hours were observed.