Emotional Release After Trigger Point Needling to Treat Myofascial Pain of the Head and Neck - Prospective Study

Launched by TEL-AVIV SOURASKY MEDICAL CENTER · Mar 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This is an observational study looking at how mood and pain change in adults with myofascial jaw muscle pain related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) who are receiving trigger-point needle treatment (a needle therapy aimed at tight muscle spots). Researchers will ask participants to complete mood and anxiety questionnaires before and after each of four treatment sessions, which are given about 1–2 weeks apart. The main goal is to see if mood shifts (as measured by a standard mood survey) and reductions in pain occur during the treatment period, with secondary goals looking at changes in distress, anxiety, and depression.

Who can join and what to expect: About 100 adults (age 18 and up) with myofascial TMD or related jaw muscle pain, treated at the Orofacial Pain clinic of Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, may participate if they give consent and meet inclusion criteria. Key exclusions include platelet counts under 80,000, active infection at the injection site, allergy to local anesthetics, serious bleeding problems, or being on Warfarin with an INR over 3. Participants will attend four treatment sessions over roughly 1–2 months, filling out several Hebrew questionnaires before and after each session, along with a pain rating and a personal sense of improvement. The study is observational (not testing a new drug) and is seeking ethics approvals for data sharing; it is currently enrolling with completion expected around 2027.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • The study group will include patients which consent to the study and are diagnosed with: Myalgia/Local Myalgia or Myofascial Pain or Myofascial pain with referral or Headache attributed to TMD with or without concurrent diagnosis related to the temporomandibular joint itself.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Patients who are not eligible for IMS therapy will be excluded:
• • PLT count under 80,000
• • Active or chronic infection at site of pain
• • Known allergy to amide local anesthetics
• • Severe bleeding disorder such as Hemophilia
• • If treated with Warfarin INR over 3