• Pedro Valiente-Castrillo, Aitor Martín-Pintado-Zugasti, César Calvo-Lobo, Hector Beltran-Alacreu, and Josué Fernández-Carnero.
• Physical Therapy Unit, Rehabilitation Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain.
• Acupunct Med. 2021 Apr 1; 39 (2): 91-105.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to observe the medium-term effects on pain, disability, and psychological factors of a combination of myofascial trigger point (MTrP) dry needling (DN) with pain neuroscience education (PNE) versus DN alone versus control care as usual (CUC) in patients with chronic neck pain.MethodsA total of 60 patients were randomly selected in a Spanish National Health Service Public Hospital and divided into three groups: 6 sessions of DN with 3 sessions of PNE (TrPDN + PNE group, n = 21), 6 sessions of DN alone (TrPDN group, n = 20), or 10 sessions of usual care (CUC group, n = 19). The primary outcome was neck pain intensity, while neck disability, medication intake, and psychological factors were secondary outcomes. These variables were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and at 1 month and 3 months after treatment.ResultsTrPDN + PNE and DN alone were associated with greater reductions in pain intensity and disability compared to CUC (p < 0.01). TrPDN + PNE resulted in greater improvements in kinesiophobia, pain anxiety, and pain-related beliefs than DN alone and CUC (p < 0.01). No differences between groups were observed in medication intake, quality of life, catastrophizing, depression, or fear of pain (p > 0.05).DiscussionProvision of PNE and DN in the management of chronic neck pain in a Spanish National Health Service Public Hospital was associated with greater improvements in psychological factors than DN therapy only.ConclusionDN alone was more effective at reducing chronic non-specific neck pain and disability than CUC at 3-month follow-up. However, the inclusion of PNE combined with DN resulted in greater improvements in kinesiophobia, pain anxiety, and pain-related beliefs.Trial Registration NumberNCT03095365 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

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