NCT07294651

Percutaneous Electrolysis of the Upper Trapezius in Chronic Neck Pain

Effectiveness of Different Percutaneous Electrolysis Treatment Protocols Targeting the Upper Trapezius Muscle in Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Sivas State Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In the planned study, we aim to investigate the effectiveness of percutaneous electrolysis treatment applied to myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle in patients with chronic neck pain. Two different protocols, a low-intensity (0.5 mA × 90 s) and a high-intensity (3 mA × 3 s × 3 repetitions), will be compared in the study. Patients participating in the research will be randomized into 2 groups using a computer program. Stretching exercises targeting the upper trapezius muscle will be given to both groups as a home exercise program. In both groups, the percutaneous electrolysis treatment protocol will be performed on the active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle on the 1st, 8th, and 14th days of treatment, using 0.3-millimeter acupuncture needles and an EPTE® percutaneous electrolysis device (Ionclinics \& A. Deionic SL, Valencia, Spain). The low-intensity (0.5 milliampere × 90 s) treatment protocol will be applied to Group 1, and the high-intensity (3 milliampere × 3 s × 3 repetitions) treatment protocol will be applied to Group 2. In the study, two different protocols, low-intensity (0.5 mA × 90 s) and high-intensity (3 mA × 3 s × 3 repetitions), will be compared. In this way, it is aimed both to obtain information about optimal dosing and to contribute to the literature for a frequently involved muscle such as the upper trapezius.

Conditions

• Myofascial Pain of Upper Trapezius Muscle

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Low-Intensity Percutaneous Electrolysis of the Upper Trapezius	Ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis applied to the active myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle using 0.3-mm acupuncture needles and an EPTE® percutaneous electrolysis device. A low-intensity protocol is used (0.5 mA for 90 seconds per session) on days 1, 8, and 14.
DEVICE	High-Intensity Percutaneous Electrolysis of the Upper Trapezius	Ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis applied to the active myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle using 0.3-mm acupuncture needles and an EPTE® percutaneous electrolysis device. A high-intensity protocol is used (3 mA for 3 seconds, repeated 3 times per session) on days 1, 8, and 14.
OTHER	Upper Trapezius Stretching Exercise Program	Home-based stretching exercise program targeting the upper trapezius muscle throughout the treatment period in both groups.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-01
• Primary completion: 2026-04-01
• Completion: 2026-04-10
• First posted: 2025-12-19
• Last updated: 2025-12-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)