Electrical dry needling combined with therapeutic exercise is not yet proven to be more effective than therapeutic exercise alone in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain, as the trial is ongoing and results are pending.
This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial comparing electrical dry needling (EDN) combined with therapeutic exercise versus therapeutic exercise alone in 70 participants with chronic nonspecific neck pain. The trial is ongoing, with recruitment partially completed (35 of 70 as of January 2026), and results are expected to be published in late 2026. No efficacy results are available yet.
This article is automatically generated from the structured evidence profile behind the claim above. Scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical advice.
Electrical dry needling combined with therapeutic exercise is not yet proven to be more effective than therapeutic exercise alone in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain, as the trial is ongoing and results are pending. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study, including 1 randomized controlled trial. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 42/100 (low).
The Claim
Electrical dry needling combined with therapeutic exercise is not yet proven to be more effective than therapeutic exercise alone in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain, as the trial is ongoing and results are pending.
This conclusion is most relevant to: Patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNSNP), recruited from outpatient physical therapy department of University of Almería..
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Electrical Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise Versus Therapeutic Exercise in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. (JMIR research protocols, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸EDN is applied to myofascial trigger points to modulate pain and improve function.
- ▸Therapeutic exercise is provided as a cornerstone intervention for CNSNP.
- ▸Combining EDN with exercise may enhance pain modulation and functional outcomes.
- ▸The trial will compare the combined intervention to exercise alone to determine if EDN adds benefit.
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNSNP), recruited from outpatient physical therapy department of University of Almería.
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸The trial is ongoing, so no results are available to support efficacy claims.
- ▸The study is examiner-blinded but not participant-blinded, which may introduce bias.
- ▸Recruitment is behind schedule (35 of 70 participants as of January 2026), which may affect timeline and power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary outcome of this trial?▼
The primary outcome is cervical disability, measured at baseline, postintervention, and 2-month follow-up.
How many participants are included in this trial?▼
The trial plans to include 70 participants, with 35 in each group.
What is the intervention frequency?▼
Both groups receive one session per week for 6 weeks, totaling 6 sessions.
When are results expected?▼
Data collection is expected to be completed by March 2026, with results anticipated to be published in late 2026.
References
- 1.Lara-Palomo IC, Bautista-Rodríguez A, Muñoz-Manzaneda JM, Álvarez-López E, Barragán-Olea E, Castro-Sánchez AM. “Electrical Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise Versus Therapeutic Exercise in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial..” JMIR research protocols, 2026. PMID: 42623514 DOI: 10.2196/91491