Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger PointsNCT07913984
Dry Needling in the Management of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Orofacial Area: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
A study testing Dry Needling and Counselling in people with Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger Points and Dry Needling Technique, run by Universidade do Porto at 1 site in Portugal.
Trial summary
A prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted, in which Dry Needling (DN), sham DN (placebo), and counselling (gold standard) were compared, with specific objectives to assess both the benefits (e.g., pain reduction and functional improvement) and harms (e.g., adverse events) of… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger Points, Dry Needling Technique, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
- What is being tested?
- Dry Needling and Counselling
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Surgery or procedure, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePortugal
- Study dates
- 18 Sep 2013to 19 Mar 2014
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients diagnosed with Temporomandibular Disorder(TMD) axis I diagnostic of myofascial pain and active Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in the masseter and/or temporalis muscles, with:
- localized spontaneous acute pain;
- presence of a taut, palpable band;
- localized tenderness in a precise point along taut band;
- referred pain area associated with the MTrP;
- replication of pain symptoms when the MTrP was pressured.
Who cannot join
- Patients < 18 years old;
- TMD diagnosis other than myofascial pain (RDC/TMD axis I or axis II) including arthralgias, disc displacement, among others;
- Previously received acupuncture, Dry Needling or other TMD treatment in the last 6 months;
- Patients who had a bleeding disorder;
- Patients with needle phobia;
- Patients with rheumatologic, metabolic, neurologic or psychiatric disorders.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
A prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted, in which Dry Needling (DN), sham DN (placebo), and counselling (gold standard) were compared, with specific objectives to assess both the benefits (e.g., pain reduction and functional improvement) and harms (e.g., adverse events) of each intervention.
- Conditions
- Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger Points, Dry Needling Technique, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
- Being tested
- Dry Needling, Sham Dry Needling, Counselling
- Keywords
- Dry Needling, Temporomandibular Disorders, Myofascial pain
- Medical subject headings
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Dry NeedlingProcedure or surgery
Dry Needling therapy was applied in the Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) using standard single use sterile acupuncture needles 0,20mm x 13mm. The patient was placed in the supine position, the skin was disinfected with alcohol, the trigger points were determined, and the needle was inserted. When the needle penetrated the MTrP a movement "up and down" was repeated 3 to 5 times (without being completely removed). The procedure was repeated for each MTrPs present, including both active and latent points.
Sham Dry NeedlingProcedure or surgery
Sham Dry Needling was applied pricking the skin with a blunted needle after the skin was disinfected with alcohol and the trigger points determined. The sham DN looked very similar to real DN except it didn't penetrate the skin.
CounsellingBehavioural
Counseling program about Myofascial Pain and Myofascial Trigger Points, emphasizing the benign nature of the condition. Patients were were instructed to relax their masticatory muscles, avoid clenching their teeth, refrain from chewing gum, biting their nails or pens, and to avoid other similar oral habits.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Needling (DN) | Experimental | DN therapy was applied in the Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs). Receives: Procedure: Dry Needling |
| Sham Dry Needling (DN) | Sham comparator | Sham DN was applied pricking the skin with a blunted needle after the skin was disinfected with alcohol and the trigger points determined using the same protocol as in the DN group. Receives: Procedure: Sham Dry Needling |
| Counselling | Active comparator | Patients received an educational and counseling program about Myofascial Pain and Myofascial Trigger Points. Receives: Behavioral: Counselling |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain intensity
Pain intensity rated using a visual analogic scale (VAS).
Measured: Before and after intervention, 1 month after the last consultation
Pain-free maximal jaw opening (PFJO)
PFJO was assessed with a millimeter rule
Measured: Before and after intervention, 1 month after the last consultation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Nov 2026
- Study start18 Sep 2013
- Primary completion21 Feb 2014
- Study completion19 Mar 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger PointsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Universidade do Porto
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centro Hospitalar De São João, E.P.E.
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07913984
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- DryNed
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Dry Needling in the Management of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Orofacial Area: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07913984
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DryNed
- Conditions
- Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger Points, Dry Needling Technique, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
- Keywords
- Dry Needling, Temporomandibular Disorders, Myofascial pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Universidade do PortoUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centro Hospitalar De São João, E.P.E.
- Study start
- 18 Sep 2013 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Feb 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- 19 Mar 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Nov 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.
A prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted, in which Dry Needling (DN), sham DN (placebo), and counselling (gold standard) were compared, with specific objectives to assess both the benefits (e.g., pain reduction and functional improvement) and harms (e.g., adverse events) of each intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Needling (DN) | Experimental | Procedure: Dry NeedlingDN therapy was applied in the Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs). |
| Sham Dry Needling (DN) | Sham comparator | Procedure: Sham Dry NeedlingSham DN was applied pricking the skin with a blunted needle after the skin was disinfected with alcohol and the trigger points determined using the same protocol as in the DN group. |
| Counselling | Active comparator | Behavioral: CounsellingPatients received an educational and counseling program about Myofascial Pain and Myofascial Trigger Points. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients diagnosed with Temporomandibular Disorder(TMD) axis I diagnostic of myofascial pain and active Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in the masseter and/or temporalis muscles, with:
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients < 18 years old;
- TMD diagnosis other than myofascial pain (RDC/TMD axis I or axis II) including arthralgias, disc displacement, among others;
- Previously received acupuncture, Dry Needling or other TMD treatment in the last 6 months;
- Patients who had a bleeding disorder;
- Patients with needle phobia;
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dry NeedlingDry Needling therapy was applied in the Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) using standard single use sterile acupuncture needles 0,20mm x 13mm. The patient was placed in the supine position, the skin was disinfected with alcohol, the trigger points were determined, and the needle was inserted. When the needle penetrated the MTrP a movement "up and down" was repeated 3 to 5 times (without being completely removed). The procedure was repeated for each MTrPs present, including both active and latent points. | Procedure or surgery | Dry Needling (DN) |
| Sham Dry NeedlingSham Dry Needling was applied pricking the skin with a blunted needle after the skin was disinfected with alcohol and the trigger points determined. The sham DN looked very similar to real DN except it didn't penetrate the skin. | Procedure or surgery | Sham Dry Needling (DN) |
| CounsellingCounseling program about Myofascial Pain and Myofascial Trigger Points, emphasizing the benign nature of the condition. Patients were were instructed to relax their masticatory muscles, avoid clenching their teeth, refrain from chewing gum, biting their nails or pens, and to avoid other similar oral habits. | Behavioural | Counselling |
Primary outcome
Pain intensity
Time frame: Before and after intervention, 1 month after the last consultation
Pain intensity rated using a visual analogic scale (VAS).
Pain-free maximal jaw opening (PFJO)
Time frame: Before and after intervention, 1 month after the last consultation
PFJO was assessed with a millimeter rule
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Nov 2026.
Related trials for Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger Points
Not yet recruiting
Comparative Analysis of Dry Needling Techniques for Orofacial Myofascial Pain
Myofascial Pain Syndromes, Facial Pain
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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Dry Needling and Counselling in people with Dry Needling, Technique for the Treatment of the Myofascial Trigger Points and Dry Needling Technique, run by Universidade do Porto at 1 site in Portugal.
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 6 inclusion and 6 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Nov 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 Portugal. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain intensity (time frame: Before and after intervention, 1 month after the last consultation). 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 3 Nov 2026.