Effectiveness of Dry Needling Versus Manual Trigger Point Release on Active Rhomboid Trigger Points

Launched by RIPHAH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · Jul 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at two different treatments for pain caused by active trigger points—tight, sensitive spots—in the rhomboid muscles, located in the upper back between your shoulder blades. The study compares dry needling, which uses thin needles to relieve muscle tightness, with manual trigger point release, a hands-on technique to ease muscle pain. Researchers want to see which method works better to reduce pain, improve movement, and help with daily activities.

Adults who have moderate to severe upper back pain lasting at least four weeks, caused specifically by active trigger points in the rhomboid muscle, may be eligible to join. People with other conditions that could cause similar pain, like fibromyalgia, recent surgery, or nerve problems, would not qualify. If you participate, you can expect to receive one of these treatments and have your pain and movement carefully checked before and after. The results of this study aim to help doctors choose the most effective treatment for people with this type of muscle pain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Presence of a clinically confirmed active trigger point in the rhomboid muscle based on established criteria (e.g., palpable tight band, local tenderness, referred pain pattern).
• • Pain Level: Moderate to severe pain intensity (e.g., 4 or higher on a Visual Analog Scale or Numeric Pain Rating Scale).
• • Duration of Symptoms: pain for at least 4 weeks.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• * Patient with conditions that may contribute to neck and subscapular pain other than rhomboid:
• • fibromyalgia
• • Rheumatic and inflammatory disease
• • Recent Surgery
• • Diabatic
• • Cervical radiculopathy and nerve entrapment
• • Pregnancy
• • Malignancy