History

Study design: Double Blinded RCT. Objectives: Study the effects of dry needling (DN) and dry needling combined with electrical stimulation(EDN) on pain and function in patients with subacute neck pain following myofascial trigger points in upper quadrant muscles. Method: Thirty patient will be randomly allocated into two groups one receives DN +hot pack and group two receive EDN + hot pack. Each protocol of intervention consists of 6 sessions for 3 weeks (2 sessions per week) and checking VAS and ROM and NDI and FCE before and after treatment. Result: Thirty patients were including in the study, 17 men and 13 women, VAS for pain at rest and at movement showed improvement in both group DN and EDN with an improvement advantage for the EDN group (p=0.000). And also for FCE we showed improvement and correlation in both group DN and EDN with an improvement advantage for the EDN group (p=0.000). and second outcome measure NDI we showed also improvement in both group DN and EDN with an improvement advantage for the EDN group(p=0.000). And for ROM of cervical also we showed improvement in both group DN and EDN and no significant different between two group the (P=0.000). Conclusion: The combination of dry needling, Electrical stimulation, and conventional therapy can be effective protocol for relieving pain, improving disability, function, at the patients with subacute neck pain following myofascial trigger points in upper quadrant muscles. The Application of dry needling, Electrical stimulation, and conventional therapy has no additional effects compare to dry needling therapy on improving identified ROM measures in these patients.