An interventional study of Real dry needling and Sham dry needling in Myofascial Trigger Point Pain, sponsored by Kutahya Health Sciences University. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-24.
Sponsored by Kutahya Health Sciences University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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Among 81 studies in Myofascial Pain Syndromes with a site in Turkey — 12 open to participants now, 12 under way, none of them phase 3. Myofascial Pain Syndromes · Turkey.
Among the 81 studies in Myofascial Pain Syndromes with a site in Turkey, this one is the 39th largest by planned enrollment of the 67 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 9 that started in 2024, is one of 62 with no phase, reaches primary completion later than 6 of the 11 other live ones, and was the 50th registered.
339 studies on the registry are indexed under Myofascial Pain Syndromes; 66 are open to participants now.
Browse Myofascial Pain Syndromes studies →12 of the 81 studies in Myofascial Pain Syndromes with a site in Turkey are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
ALİEMAN · Sites in Turkey
Ages 18–65
Istanbul University · Sites in Turkey
Ages 18–55
Ankara Etlik City Hospital · Sites in Turkey
Ages 18–65
Ankara University · Sites in Turkey
Ages 18–65
Gazi University · Sites in Turkey
Ages 18–35 · Women only
A study can be open while its sites in Turkey have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in Turkey →
Of the 34 Myofascial Pain Syndromes studies recruiting now, 5 (15%) set no upper age limit and 26 (76%) stop at 75 or younger; 2 take children under 18; 4 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years to 80 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
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81 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
First in 2005; this study’s year is marked. 9 started in 2024.
By drug class, each counting the studies that test any of its medicines:
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is close to the median of 50 across 307 interventional studies indexed under Myofascial Pain Syndromes.
Median enrollment 60 across the 67 interventional studies, 110 across the 14 observational. Of the 64 that completed or were terminated, 1 (2%) have results posted.
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1 of 81 have an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
Kutahya Health Sciences University is the lead sponsor of 219 studies on the registry; 48 are open to participants now.
Kutahya Health Sciences University has 1 study filed under Myofascial Pain Syndromes — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
3 of the studies in Myofascial Pain Syndromes with a site in Turkey that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT07926113Medipol UniversityComparison of 26G and 30G Needles for Masseter Trigger Point Injections in Patients With Myofascial Pain Syndrome | 2027-01 |
| NCT07511751ALİEMANCOMPARISON OF THREE TREATMENT MODALITIES IN MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME | 2027-03-10 |
| NCT07904364Mardin Artuklu UniversityAgreement Between CSI and IASP Pain Classification in Chronic Cervical Myofascial Pain | 2027-06-15 |
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Among the 81 studies in Myofascial Pain Syndromes with a site in Turkey, from their registry updates:
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
Back pain is commonly seen in the working-age population, with the peak occurrence around the age of 40. Its frequency does not increase with age and is not associated with age-related degenerative changes in the spine. Especially when the underlying cause is conditions such as myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), where regional muscle sensitivity in the rhomboid and trapezius areas is prominent, dry needling treatment has become increasingly popular and the subject of numerous studies in recent years. In the diagnosis of MPS, two valuable findings include the detection of a taut band upon palpation and the presence of trigger points in muscle fibers with mild finger pressure. The study we are planning involves a double-blind efficacy trial where real and sham dry needling procedures will be performed under ultrasound guidance, ensuring that both the patient and the evaluator are blinded. This study design has the potential to make a significant contribution to the literature in this field.
The study aims to enroll 60 patients aged between 18 and 80 years who present to the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic of KSBÜ Evliya Çelebi Training and Research Hospital with complaints of dorsalgia and clinically diagnosed with Dorsal Myofascial Pain Syndrome. After signing informed consent forms, eligible patients will be randomized into two different groups using a random number table (randomizer.org) according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study will be a two-group, sham-controlled, double-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Patients and the evaluator will be blinded to group allocation, with only the physician administering the dry needling treatment being aware of the assignment.
In the dry needling application, thinner needles with a gauge of 27 and a length of 5 cm, which are significantly finer than conventional standard injection needles, will be used in both the study and sham groups. These needles minimize tissue irritation due to their finer tip, targeting the trigger points in the trapezius and rhomboid muscles on the standard painful side in the study group and the subcutaneous fatty tissue in the same regions in the sham group.
Throughout the study period, all patients in both groups will be instructed in detail on the daily exercises they need to perform (trapezius stretching and rhomboid stretching exercises), as well as on important considerations (avoiding prolonged static positions, etc.). They will be encouraged to perform these exercises daily and mark their completion. Additionally, they will be informed about the selection and usage of medications (only paracetamol) that they can use when necessary, along with instructions on adherence and marking on the provided follow-up form. The entire process will be monitored weekly through the follow-up form provided to the patients.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Real dry needling into the muscle under ultrasound guidance.
Other: Real dry needling
Sham dry needling into the subcutaneous fatty tissue under ultrasound guidance.
Other: Sham dry needling
dry needling into the muscle under ultrasound guidance.
dry needling into the subcutaneous fatty tissue under ultrasound guidance.
Visual Analog Scale
"Visual Analog Scale (VAS)" is a measurement instrument often used in healthcare to assess the intensity or characteristics of subjective experiences such as pain. It typically consists of a straight line, usually 10 centimeters in length, with endpoints representing extremes (e.g., "no pain" to "worst imaginable pain"). Patients mark on the line to indicate their subjective experience, and the distance from one endpoint provides a numerical score representing the intensity of the sensation being measured. The VAS is commonly employed in pain assessment but can also be adapted for various other subjective evaluations.
Time frame: [Time Frame: Time frame 1: Up to 24 hour before the first intervention, Time frame 2: Up to 24 hour before the second intervention, Time frame 3: One week after the last intervention, Time frame 4: One month after the last intervention]
Patient-Specific Functional Scale
"Patient-Specific Functional Scale" (PSFS). The PSFS is a self-report outcome measure commonly used in healthcare, particularly in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings. It is designed to assess the patient's perceived difficulty in performing specific activities that are relevant to their daily life and function. Identification of Activities: The patient is asked to identify and list three to five activities that they find challenging or have difficulty performing due to their condition or symptoms. Rating Scale: For each identified activity, the patient is asked to rate their current level of difficulty on a numerical scale, often ranging from 0 to 10. A score of 0 indicates no difficulty, while 10 indicates the maximum difficulty. Follow-up Assessments: The same activities and rating scale are used in follow-up assessments to track changes over time or in response to interventions.
Time frame: [Time Frame: Time frame 1: Up to 24 hour before the first intervention, Time frame 2: Up to 24 hour before the second intervention, Time frame 3: One week after the last intervention, Time frame 4: One month after the last intervention]
Pressure Pain Threshold Measurement
"Pressure Pain Threshold Measurement" refers to the assessment of the amount of pressure applied to a specific point on the body before the individual perceives it as painful. This measurement is commonly used in clinical settings to evaluate pain sensitivity and threshold. The process involves gradually applying pressure to a specific area until the individual signals that they begin to feel pain. It is a quantitative way to assess pain perception and is often utilized in research, physical therapy, and other healthcare disciplines to understand pain levels and responses.
Time frame: [Time Frame: Time frame 1: Up to 24 hour before the first intervention, Time frame 2: Up to 24 hour before the second intervention, Time frame 3: One week after the last intervention, Time frame 4: One month after the last intervention
What does Oswestry stand for? The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)
What does Oswestry stand for? The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a common questionnaire used to evaluate functional outcomes and physical functioning in patients with acute or chronic low back pain. This questionnaire yields a subjective percentage score that grades the level of physical function or disability. Each section is scored on a 0-5 scale, 5 representing the greatest disability. The index is calculated by dividing the summed score by the total possible score, which is then multiplied by 100 and expressed as a percentage. Thus, for every question not answered, the denominator is reduced by 5. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is calculated based on each score of the ODQ, which consists of ten items. Each of the ten items is scored from 0 to 5, and the total is added and multiplied by 2. Therefore, the ODI ranges from 0 to 100. A higher score on the ODI indicates a more severe disability caused by LBP.
Time frame: [Time Frame: Time frame 1: Up to 24 hour before the first intervention, Time frame 2: One week after the last intervention, Time frame 3: One month after the last intervention]
The 12-item Short-Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2)
The SF-12v2 is a health-related quality-of-life questionnaire consisting of twelve questions that measure eight health domains to assess physical and mental health. Physical health-related domains include General Health (GH), Physical Functioning (PF), Role Physical (RP), and Body Pain (BP). What is the maximum score for SF-12? Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better physical and mental health functioning
Time frame: [Time Frame: Time frame 1: Up to 24 hour before the first intervention, Time frame 2: One week after the last intervention, Time frame 3: One month after the last intervention]
Started Apr 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Oct 2026, 29 months after the start.
Of 202 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Myofascial Pain Syndromes, half reached primary completion within 5 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 2 and three quarters within 12. This study's planned 29 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 204 studies reached it within 5 months; a quarter within 2 and three quarters within 13.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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