Protocol Number: 02-CC-0245
1. Healthy people without neck pain who have no myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle 2. Healthy people without neck pain who have latent MTrPs as identified by palpation (touching) in the upper trapezius muscle 3. Healthy people who have had neck pain for less than three months who have active MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle The researchers have treated myofascial pain by inserting an acupuncture needle into the tender part of the upper trapezius muscle. They theorize that the treatment works by physically disrupting the integrity of dysfunctional motor endplates in the muscle. They have devised a hollow needle whose diameter is no larger than that of an acupuncture needle. In this study, they will use the needle to draw small amounts of fluid from the muscle. They will use electrodes to compare the muscle responses of the three groups. They will analyze the chemical contents of the withdrawn fluids, such as electrolytes, muscle metabolites, inflammatory mediators, neurotransmitters, cytokines, and arachidonic acid derivatives. These substances are believed to play a critical role in the biochemistry and pathophysiology of soft tissue pain. The primary goal of the study is to learn whether this technique can successfully sample these chemicals, and whether the differences in amounts of these chemicals among the three groups will allow the researchers to advance understanding of the nature, diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain.
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Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC) |
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