CervicalNCT07594223
Efficacy of Activator Trigger Point and Shock Wave Therapy on Pain and Function in Active Upper Trapezius Trigger Points: A Randomized Controlled Study
A study testing Shockwave and Activator in people with Cervical, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of trigger point activator and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 27 to 40 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervical
- What is being tested?
- Shockwave and Activator
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2026to 1 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 27 to 40 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 1. Male or female participants aged between 25 and 40 years. 2. Body Mass Index (BMI) between 20 and 30 kg/m². 3.Presence of active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle confirmed by clinical examination.
- Complaints of neck pain associated with upper trapezius trigger points. 5. Ability and willingness to participate in the treatment sessions and follow the study protocol.
Who cannot join
- 1. History of neck trauma, cervical spine fracture, or cervical spine surgery. 2. Presence of neurological disorders affecting the cervical region. 3. Presence of cervical disc prolapse or severe cervical spine pathology. 4. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia or systemic musculoskeletal disorders. 5. Presence of skin diseases, wounds, or infections at the treatment area. 6. Patients with malignancy or severe systemic diseases.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of trigger point activator and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. The subjects will then be randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A: will receive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Group B: will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region.
The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period. Outcome measures will be assessed before the beginning of the treatment program and after completion of the intervention period. Pain intensity and pressure pain threshold will be assessed using an algometer. Functional disability related to the neck will be evaluated using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). All collected data will be recorded and statistically analyzed to determine the effectiveness of both treatment modalities in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes.
Read the detailed description
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of trigger point activator and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. The subjects will then be randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A: will receive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Group B: will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region.
The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period. Outcome measures will be assessed before the beginning of the treatment program and after completion of the intervention period. Pain intensity and pressure pain threshold will be assessed using an algometer. Functional disability related to the neck will be evaluated using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). All collected data will be recorded and statistically analyzed to determine the effectiveness of both treatment modalities in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes. 15. Participants of the study:
- The number of participants: 200 (50 per group to ensure 40 completers per arm after attrition).
- Important characteristics
- Adult (27:40 years):
- Gender: both gender
- Diagnosis: Active upper trapezius trigger points Inclusion criteria
- Male or female participants aged between 25 and 40 years.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 20 and 30 kg/m².
- Presence of active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle confirmed by clinical examination.
- Complaints of neck pain associated with upper trapezius trigger points.
- Ability and willingness to participate in the treatment sessions and follow the study protocol.
Exclusion criteria:
- History of neck trauma, cervical spine fracture, or cervical spine surgery.
- Presence of neurological disorders affecting the cervical region.
- Presence of cervical disc prolapse or severe cervical spine pathology.
- Diagnosis of fibromyalgia or systemic musculoskeletal disorders.
- Presence of skin diseases, wounds, or infections at the treatment area.
- Patients with malignancy or severe systemic diseases.
- Conditions
- Cervical
- Being tested
- Shockwave, Activator
- Keywords
- cervical, trigger points, shock wave
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ShockwaveDevice
will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region. 12. The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period.
ActivatorDevice
will receive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| treatment | Experimental | receive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Receives: Device: Activator |
| Shockwave | Active comparator | will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region. The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period. Receives: Device: Shockwave |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Questionnaire assessing neck function valid and reilable
Measured: 6 weeks
VAS
Pain score
Measured: 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 May 2026
- Study start1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion12 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for CervicalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Suez University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mina Magdy Wahba, Suez University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07594223
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SuezU1
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 7 May 2026
- Last updated
- 18 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Activator Trigger Point and Shock Wave Therapy on Pain and Function in Active Upper Trapezius Trigger Points: A Randomized Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07594223
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SuezU1
- Conditions
- Cervical
- Keywords
- cervical, trigger points, shock wave
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Suez University
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 12 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of trigger point activator and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. The subjects will then be randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A: will receive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Group B: will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region.
The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period. Outcome measures will be assessed before the beginning of the treatment program and after completion of the intervention period. Pain intensity and pressure pain threshold will be assessed using an algometer. Functional disability related to the neck will be evaluated using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). All collected data will be recorded and statistically analyzed to determine the effectiveness of both treatment modalities in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes.
Detailed description
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of trigger point activator and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited and informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. The subjects will then be randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A: will receive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Group B: will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region.
The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period. Outcome measures will be assessed before the beginning of the treatment program and after completion of the intervention period. Pain intensity and pressure pain threshold will be assessed using an algometer. Functional disability related to the neck will be evaluated using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). All collected data will be recorded and statistically analyzed to determine the effectiveness of both treatment modalities in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes. 15. Participants of the study:
- The number of participants: 200 (50 per group to ensure 40 completers per arm after attrition).
- Important characteristics
- Adult (27:40 years):
- Gender: both gender
- Diagnosis: Active upper trapezius trigger points Inclusion criteria
- Male or female participants aged between 25 and 40 years.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) between 20 and 30 kg/m².
- Presence of active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle confirmed by clinical examination.
- Complaints of neck pain associated with upper trapezius trigger points.
- Ability and willingness to participate in the treatment sessions and follow the study protocol.
Exclusion criteria:
- History of neck trauma, cervical spine fracture, or cervical spine surgery.
- Presence of neurological disorders affecting the cervical region.
- Presence of cervical disc prolapse or severe cervical spine pathology.
- Diagnosis of fibromyalgia or systemic musculoskeletal disorders.
- Presence of skin diseases, wounds, or infections at the treatment area.
- Patients with malignancy or severe systemic diseases.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| treatment | Experimental | Device: Activatorreceive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. |
| Shockwave | Active comparator | Device: Shockwavewill receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region. The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 27 to 40 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 1. Male or female participants aged between 25 and 40 years. 2. Body Mass Index (BMI) between 20 and 30 kg/m². 3.Presence of active myofascial trigger points in the upper fibers of the trapezius muscle confirmed by clinical examination.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1. History of neck trauma, cervical spine fracture, or cervical spine surgery. 2. Presence of neurological disorders affecting the cervical region. 3. Presence of cervical disc prolapse or severe cervical spine pathology. 4. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia or systemic musculoskeletal disorders. 5. Presence of skin diseases, wounds, or infections at the treatment area. 6. Patients with malignancy or severe systemic diseases.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Shockwavewill receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied to the same region. 12. The treatment will be applied according to standardized therapeutic parameters for a predetermined number of sessions over the study period. | Device | Shockwave |
| Activatorwill receive treatment using the trigger point activator applied to the active trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. | Device | treatment |
Primary outcome
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time frame: 6 weeks
Questionnaire assessing neck function valid and reilable
VAS
Time frame: 6 weeks
Pain score
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Shockwave and Activator in people with Cervical, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mina Wahba, phD (+062 3707068, mina.magdy@the.suezuni.edu.eg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Neck Disability Index (NDI) (time frame: 6 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 May 2026.