Dry Needling in United States Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs: Safety Assessment and Adverse Event Reporting

J Phys Ther Educ. 2025 Mar 11. doi: 10.1097/JTE.0000000000000393. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Despite the growing clinical use of dry needling (DN) among physical therapists in the United States and its gradual adoption into entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs, limited research exists on DN safety within educational settings. This study aims […]

When Heel Pain Isn’t Plantar Fasciitis | Clinical Relevance with Dr. Frank

Think your patient has plantar fasciitis? Think again. A missed diagnosis could be the real culprit—Baxter’s Nerve Entrapment (Inferior Calcaneal Nerve Entrapment). This condition mimics plantar fasciitis but requires a completely different treatment approach. 🔎 Case Study: A 17-Year-Old Athlete with Heel Pain 🏃‍♂️ I recently evaluated a 17-year-old lacrosse player preparing for his upcoming […]

Recovering from Radial Nerve Palsy with Dry Needling | Clinical Relevance

Radial nerve palsy can be life-altering, affecting hand function, grip strength, and daily activities. But what if neurological dry needling could help restore movement and sensation? In this case study, I share how a patient with severe radial nerve damage progressed from minimal wrist and thumb function to full recovery—regaining strength, dexterity, and even returning […]

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of combined microneedling therapy versus topical Minoxidil in androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Arch Dermatol Res. 2025 Mar 8;317(1):528. doi: 10.1007/s00403-025-04032-1. ABSTRACT This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the combined microneedling (CMNT) with minoxidil versus minoxidil monotherapy for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), with a focus on the impact of microneedling parameters on treatment outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42024594487) of […]

Effectiveness of acupuncture for equine laminitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Vet World. 2025 Jan;18(1):60-66. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.60-66. Epub 2025 Jan 9. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND AIM: In the past 20 years, acupuncture has been utilized as an alternative therapy for equine laminitis despite a lack of clinical evidence to support its effectiveness. Information from previous studies needs to be evaluated holistically to verify the effectiveness of acupuncture. […]

Dry needling for mechanical neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Surg Neurol Int. 2025 Feb 14;16:44. doi: 10.25259/SNI_797_2024. eCollection 2025. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dry needling (DN) has emerged as a potential treatment for mechanical neck pain, but the evidence remains inconclusive. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of DN in improving pain and functionality in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. METHODS: A systematic review […]

A Multimodal Chiropractic Approach to the Treatment and Management of Medial Elbow Injuries in Elite Javelin Throwers: A Case Series

Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2025 Mar 1;20(3):429-447. doi: 10.26603/001c.129970. eCollection 2025. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Sports chiropractors are increasingly being consulted in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of athletes. The purpose of this case series was to describe a multimodal chiropractic treatment approach to address medial elbow injuries in amateur/elite javelin throwers. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: Five javelin […]

Development and testing of a device to detect trigger points, and local twitch responses in dry needling intervention

MethodsX. 2024 Nov 12;14:103033. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.103033. eCollection 2025 Jun. ABSTRACT Trigger point dry needling (TrpDN) has emerged as a promising intervention for the treatment of myofascial pain. This involves insertion of a sterile filament needle directly into the trigger point (Trp), with the aim of eliciting a local twitch response (LTR). This sudden, involuntary contraction […]

An overlooked cause of hand pain: myofascial trigger points in the interosseous muscles

J Ultrason. 2025 Feb 19;25(100):20250004. doi: 10.15557/JoU.2025.0004. eCollection 2025 Jan. NO ABSTRACT PMID:39981121 | PMC:PMC11841738 | DOI:10.15557/JoU.2025.0004

Comparison of the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and trigger point dry needling in the treatment of Calcaneal Epin- A randomized trial

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2025 Feb 19:10538127251317864. doi: 10.1177/10538127251317864. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dry needling (DN) and Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) are common in calcaneal epin treatment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of both treatments on proprioception, balance, pain, and functional status. METHODS: 90 patients which […]

Effectiveness of self-management programmes for athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A systematic review

S Afr J Sports Med. 2025 Feb 15;37(1):v37i1a18648. doi: 10.17159/2078-516X/2025/v37i1a18648. eCollection 2025. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common condition that can severely hinder an athlete’s ability to perform and compete at their full potential and overall well-being. The emergence of self-management programmes presents a potential treatment avenue for athletes with PFPS. Self-management […]

Dry needling of the gluteus-medius muscle, combined with standard care, for chronic low back pain – a pilot randomized sham-controlled trial

J Man Manip Ther. 2025 Feb 15:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2025.2465726. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Individuals with low back pain (LBP) often exhibit weakness and the presence of trigger points in their Gluteus Medius (GMe) muscle. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of adding dry needling (DN) for the GMe to standard care of active physical […]

Periosteal Electrical Dry Needling Efficacy in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2025 Feb 15;29(1):48. doi: 10.1007/s11916-025-01362-7. ABSTRACT PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Osteoarthritis is a “wear and tear” injury characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage, formation of osteophytes, microfractures, and sclerosis. These physiological changes result in joint pain, stiffness, and deformity. One potential treatment for this is periosteal electrical dry needling. RECENT FINDINGS: We […]

When a Toothache Isn’t Your Teeth? 🦷🧠 | Clinical Relevance with Dr. Frank

In this Clinical Relevance video, I share my personal experience with unexplained facial pain—and how dry needling targeted the root cause: neurogenic inflammation. Let’s break down the science, my self-treatment approach, and why this matters for your practice. The Mystery: Unexplained Facial Pain Last December, I woke up with a deep, aching pain in my […]

The effects of dry needling on muscle blood flow of the infraspinatus muscle in individuals with shoulder pain – a randomized clinical trial

J Man Manip Ther. 2025 Feb 10:1-10. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2025.2464542. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Individuals with shoulder pain have a higher occurrence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). In the past decade, dry needling (DN) has been used in physical therapy practice to treat MTrPs. Impaired blood flow is proposed as an underlying mechanism of […]

An overlooked cause of upper extremity pain: myofascial trigger points of the triceps muscle and dry needling protocol

Pain Manag. 2025 Feb 10:1-3. doi: 10.1080/17581869.2025.2464526. Online ahead of print. NO ABSTRACT PMID:39929751 | DOI:10.1080/17581869.2025.2464526

Dry Needling in Sports and Sport Recovery: A Systematic Review with an Evidence Gap Map

Sports Med. 2025 Feb 10. doi: 10.1007/s40279-025-02175-9. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dry needling is an increasingly popular technique used in sports and regenerative medicine contexts. However, there is no comprehensive overview of investigations of dry needling in sports and sport recovery. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to perform a systematic review of dry needling […]

Dry Needling and Its Application in Dentistry: A Review

J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024 Dec;16(Suppl 4):S3031-S3033. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_799_24. Epub 2024 Aug 12. ABSTRACT Dry needling is a technique increasingly being used across various medical and therapeutic fields, including dentistry. It involves the insertion of fine needles into specific points in muscles or tissues to alleviate pain and promote healing. This paper explores the application […]

The Effectiveness of Acupuncture on Myofascial Trigger Points Versus Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupoints for Treating Plantar Fasciitis With Low Back Pain: A Study Protocol for a Randomised Clinical Trial

J Pain Res. 2025 Jan 28;18:497-506. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S492541. eCollection 2025. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, often associated with a higher rate of low back pain. This increased disability rate in low back pain may be correlated with reduced foot and ankle function. While both acupuncture and trigger point dry […]

Image-guided Interventions for Core Muscle Injury and Other Disorders in the Pubic Symphysis

Radiographics. 2025 Feb;45(2):e240148. doi: 10.1148/rg.240148. ABSTRACT Formerly termed sports hernia or athletic pubalgia, core muscle injury (CMI) encompasses abnormality of structures within the so-called core, which is essentially the hip, abdomen, and pubis. Compared with data on image-guided procedures of other joints, information regarding procedures performed to address CMI and other disorders of the pubic […]