Efficacy of a 0.1% capsaicin hydrogel patch for myofascial neck pain: a double-blinded randomized trial
Cho JH, et al.
Published in Pain Medicine
Methodology
Double-blind randomised controlled trial; 0.1% capsaicin hydrogel patch versus patch without capsaicin applied bilaterally over the point of maximal pain 12 hours daily for 4 weeks; primary outcome visual analogue scale, with NDI, BDI, SF-36 Korean version and EQ-5D.
Key Findings
61 adults aged 18-65 with at least 3 months of myofascial neck pain were randomised to a 0.1% capsaicin hydrogel patch or an identical patch without capsaicin, worn 12 hours daily for 4 weeks; 57 completed. Mean visual analogue pain scores, Neck Disability Index and Beck Depression Inventory all fell significantly at 2 and 4 weeks in both groups. There was no significant difference between capsaicin and control on any outcome measure, leaving patch pressure on trigger points and placebo response as plausible explanations for the improvement.
Conclusions
There was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the outcome measures.
Limitations
Sixty-one participants at a single hospital over 4 weeks; the control patch itself may have exerted a therapeutic effect on trigger points, so a true no-treatment comparison is missing.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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