Therapeutic Effects of Dry Needling in Patients with Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Points

Overview

Journal Acupunct Med

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2016 Oct 5

PMID 27697768

Citations 14

Authors

Maryam Abbaszadeh-Amirdehi

Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari

Soofia Naghdi

Gholamreza Olyaei

Mohammad Reza Nourbakhsh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are major pain generators in myofascial pain syndrome. Dry needling (DN) is an effective method for the treatment of MTrPs.

Objective: To assess the immediate neurophysiological and clinical effects of DN in patients with upper trapezius MTrPs.

Methods: This was a prospective, clinical trial study of 20 patients with upper trapezius MTrPs and 20 healthy volunteers (matched for height, weight, body mass index and age), all of whom received one session of DN. Primary outcome measures were neuromuscular junction response (NMJR) and sympathetic skin response (SSR). Secondary outcomes were pain intensity (PI) and pressure pain threshold (PPT). Data were collected at baseline and immediately post-intervention.

Results: At baseline, SSR amplitude was higher in patients versus healthy volunteers (p<0.003). With respect to NMJR, a clinically abnormal increment and normal reduction was observed in patients and healthy volunteers, respectively. Moreover, PPT of patients was less than healthy volunteers (p<0.0001). After DN, SSR amplitude decreased significantly in patients (p<0.01), but did not change in healthy volunteers. A clinically important reduction in the NMJR of patients and increment in healthy volunteers was demonstrated after DN. PPT increased after DN in patients, but decreased in healthy volunteers (p<0.0001). PI improved after DN in patients (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The results of this study showed that one session of DN targeting active MTrPs appears to reduce hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and irritability of the motor endplate. DN seems effective at improving symptoms and deactivating active MTrPs, although further research is needed.

Trial Registration Number: IRCT20130316128.

Citing Articles

Dry Needling in Overhead Athletes with Myofascial Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review.

Demeco A, de Sire A, Salerno A, Marotta N, Palermi S, Frizziero A Sports (Basel). 2024; 12(6).

PMID: 38921850 PMC: 11207993. DOI: 10.3390/sports12060156.

Effect of myofascial cupping vs integrated neuromuscular inhibition techniques on pain and neck movement in individuals with latent trigger point in trapezius.

Gazbare P, Rathi M, Channe D Hong Kong Physiother J. 2023; 43(1):73-80.

PMID: 37584049 PMC: 10423684. DOI: 10.1142/S1013702523500117.

Immediate Effect of Dry Needling on the Viscoelastic Properties of a Trigger Point on the Infraspinatus Muscle Measured with MyotonPRO.

Roch M, Morin M, Gaudreault N Physiother Can. 2023; 74(3):232-239.

PMID: 37325218 PMC: 10262836. DOI: 10.3138/ptc-2020-0095.

Efficacy of Dry Needling Versus Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Neck Pain Due to Myofascial Trigger Points: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

G A, Gupta A, Kumar D, Mishra S, Yadav G, Singha Roy M Cureus. 2023; 15(3):e36473.

PMID: 37090321 PMC: 10117592. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36473.

Pressure Pain Threshold of the Upper Trapezius Trigger Point: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Baseline Values and Their Modification after Physical Therapy.

Geri T, Botticchio A, Rossettini G, Pournajaf S, Pellicciari L, Di Antonio S J Clin Med. 2022; 11(23).

PMID: 36498817 PMC: 9739431. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11237243.

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