• Javad Manafnezhad, Zahra Salahzadeh, Mehdi Salimi, Fariba Ghaderi, and Morteza Ghojazadeh.
• Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran.
• J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2019 Jan 1; 32 (5): 811-818.

BackgroundChronic neck pain is associated with various myofascial trigger points (MTrPs).ObjectiveA single-blind randomized clinical trial was designed to compare the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) with dry needling (DN) techniques on the upper trapezius muscle trigger point in patients with non-specific neck pain (NSNP).MethodsSeventy patients with NSNP and active MTrPs of the upper trapezius muscle were randomly divided into two groups: an ESWT group (n= 35) and a DN group (n= 35). Treatment sessions were performed for three weeks and all participants received related intervention once a week. The outcome measures were pain intensity, measured by a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), measured with a digital algometer, and functional disability, evaluated by using the neck disability index (NDI).ResultsNPRS and NDI were significantly decreased in the DN group and ESWT group (P< 0.05). Also, the PPT was significantly increased in the DN group and ESWT. However, there was no significant difference in pain intensity, NDI, and the PPT between the two groups (P⩾ 0.05).ConclusionBoth ESWT and DN can be employed to treat MTrPs of the upper trapezius muscle in patients with NSNP.

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