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CompletedNCT02498249Updated Jul 15, 2015

Immediate Effect of Irradiation With Low-level Laser Therapy on the Electromyographic Activity of the Upper Trapezius Muscles and the Level of Pain Among Patients With Non-specific Neck Pain

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of low level laser therapy and Placebo low level laser therapy in Neck Pain Treatment, sponsored by University of Nove de Julho. Completed at 1 site in Brazil. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 40 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2015-07-15.

Sponsored by University of Nove de Julho · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
20
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 40 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The aim of the present study is to assess the immediate effect of irradiation with low level laser therapy (LLLT) on the electromyographic activity of upper trapezius muscles and the amount of pain felt by patients with non-specific neck pain (NS-NP).A total of 20 patients with non-specific neck pain will be enrolled in a randomized, single-blind, crossover study. Each subject will receive two forms of treatment in random order: a single session of LLLT and placebo LLLT. In order to eliminate carry-over treatment effects, a one-week wash-out period will be respected between sessions. Surface electromyography will be used to determine nerve conduction velocity and activity in the upper trapezius muscles before and after treatment. The outcome measures will be determined by a numerical pain rating scale. Comparisons before and after irradiation with LLLT will determine the activity of the upper trapezius muscles and the level of pain. The data will be submitted to statistical tests considering a p-value of p \< 0.05.

02

Conditions studied

  • Neck Pain Treatment

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Keywords

  • Low-Level Laser Therapy
  • trapezius muscle
  • neck pain
03

In context

Neck Pain

1,231 studies on the registry are indexed under Neck Pain; 254 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 20 is below the median of 52 across 1,004 interventional studies indexed under Neck Pain.

Browse Neck Pain studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Nove de Julho is the lead sponsor of 239 studies on the registry; 51 are open to participants now.

Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 1 (13%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 40 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 to 40 years
  • Male and female volunteers
  • History of neck pain for a period of more than two months
  • Score ranging from 15 to 24 on the Neck Disability Index
  • Score ranging from three to seven points on an 11-point (range: 0 to 10) numerical rating scale (NRS) for perceived pain intensity

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • history of neurological disorders
  • neck surgery
  • chronic neck pain resulting from a traumatic incident
  • chronic musculoskeletal condition
  • medical diagnosis of fibromyalgia; systemic disease
  • connective tissue disorder
  • having undergone physical therapy use of analgesic, muscle relaxant.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
20 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Experimental: low level laser therapy (LLLT)

    For the LLLT irradiation, a paper template with 9 points (area of 1cm and a distance from center to center of 1 cm) will be used, distributed in three columns and three lines. The central point of the template will be positioned above the medium point of a line traced between the acromion and the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, where the treatment should be close to the fixation point of the EMG electrode. The application point of the LLLT was determined by the location of the innervation point of the upper trapezius muscle. Individuals will be subject to application of low level laser with a total dose of 18 J

    Device: low level laser therapy

  • Placebo comparator
    Experimental: Placebo low level laser therapy (PLLLT)

    For the PLLLT irradiation, a paper template with 9 points (area of 1cm and a distance from center to center of 1 cm) will be used, distributed in three columns and three lines. The central point of the template will be positioned above the medium point of a line traced between the acromion and the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra, where the treatment should be close to the fixation point of the EMG electrode. The application point of the PLLLT was determined by the location of the innervation point of the upper trapezius muscle. Individuals will be subject to application of low level laser with a total dose of 0 J

    Device: Placebo low level laser therapy

Interventions

  • Devicelow level laser therapy

    Will be performed irradiation with low-intensity laser in upper trapezius muscle

  • DevicePlacebo low level laser therapy

    Will be not performed irradiation with low-intensity laser in upper trapezius muscle

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Electromyographic activity

    The EMG signal will be recorded in the dominant upper trapezius muscle in patients with nonspecific neck pain, will be evaluated before and after treatment.

    Time frame: 1 Year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Numerical rating scale score for pain

    A numerical rating scale for pain will be used to assess pain intensity in the NS-NP individuals. This is an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (absence of pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). The numerical rating scale was translated and cross-culturally adapted for the Brazilian population.

    Time frame: 1 Year

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Nove de Julho University
    São Paulo, 06454050, Brazil
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 15, 2015, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02498249
Lead sponsor
University of Nove de Julho
Collaborators
Simone Aparecida Penimpedo Calamita, Fabiana Sarilho de Mendonça, Daniela Aparecida Biasotto-Gonzalez, Marco Antônio Fumagalli, Paulo de Tarso Camilo de Camargo
Responsible party
Prof. Fabiano Politti, FT (PhD, University of Nove de Julho) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 15, 2015
Start date
May 2015
Primary completion
Jun 2015
Completion
Jul 2015
Last update
Jul 15, 2015

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2015. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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