The Effects of Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise on Sleep in Individuals with Chronic Neck Pain and Sleep Disturbance: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Although evidence demonstrates a bidirectional relationship between sleep and pain, non-pharmacological interventions addressing both comorbidities simultaneously are lacking. Evidence shows that dry needling (DN) influences biochemical substances associated with both pain modulation and sleep regulation; therefore, it has the potential to be an effective intervention for sleep disturbance (SD) in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). The aims of this exploratory study are (1) evaluate the feasibility of using DN in addition to therapeutic exercise (TE) as an intervention for improving sleep in individuals with CNP and SD, and (2) generate preliminary data on its effects.