Effects of Diacutaneous Fibrolysis on Pain and Mobility in Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of diacutaneous fibrolysis (DF) on pain intensity and cervical range of motion in individuals with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNPP), compared to a sham intervention. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included 30 adults with CNPP, randomly assigned in equal numbers to the DF group (DFG) or the sham group (ShG). Both groups received a single 30-minute session. Outcomes included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, cervical range of motion (ROM), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and the area of myofascial trigger points (MTP) in the upper trapezius muscle. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used, with baseline values as covariates. Mean differences (MD) and 95% CIs were calculated, with significance set at P < .05. RESULTS: DFG exhibited reduction in VAS (MD = -3.38; 95% CI: -4.22 to -2.48) and improvements in cervical ROM, including extension (MD = 11.44; 95% CI: 5.45 to 17.44), right rotation (MD = 10.68; 95% CI: 4.49 to 16.44), and left rotation (MD = 7.91; 95% CI: 4.03 to 11.78), and right lateral flexion (MD = 6.90; 95% CI: 0.29 to 10.84) and left lateral flexion (MD = 3.51; 95% CI: 0.29 to 6.73), compared to the ShG. The DFG also showed greater increases in PPT (MD = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.99) and reductions in the area of MTP (MD = -0.57; 95% CI: -0.89 to -0.25), in the upper trapezius. CONCLUSIONS: A single session of DF was effective in reducing neck pain, improving cervical ROM, increasing PPT, and decreasing MTP area in the upper trapezius of adults with CNPP.