Immunomodulatory Effects of Acupuncture on Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Authors:Chi Ngai Lo, Marcus Kwong Lam Fung, Bernard Pui Lam Leung Muscles. 2026 May 8;5(2):36. doi: 10.3390/muscles5020036. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal pain remains a major cause of disability worldwide, encompassing disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and chronic back pain. Acupuncture and dry needling are increasingly used for symptom management, yet their effects on […]

Challenges to continuity of care among patients with long COVID-related taste and smell disorders: a qualitative study

Authors:María Belén Martín-Sanz, Paloma Moro-López-Menchero, César Fernández-De-Las-Peñas, Stella Maris Gómez-Sánchez, Antonio Gil-Crujera, Laura Ceballos-García, Nuria I Escribano-Mediavilla, Mª Victoria Fuentes-Fuentes, Lidiane Lima Florencio, Domingo Palacios-Ceña Front Public Health. 2026 May 11;14:1784507. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1784507. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT Taste and smell disorders are predominant symptoms of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and can persist in individuals with post-acute sequelae […]

The impact of complementary interventions on pain and disability in patients with chronic non-cancer pain: A network meta-analysis

Authors:Yuxing Zhang, Yusheng Zhao, Yupei Cheng, Longxiao Liu, Zihe Wang, Bangqi Wu Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2026 May 23;63:102060. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2026.102060. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) imposes a substantial burden on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. Limitations and risks of long-term pharmacological treatment have increased interest in complementary […]

Efficacy of Physical Therapy Interventions Delivered With Home Exercise Programs for Pain and Function in Plantar Fasciitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Authors:Zelin Li, Siyi He, Jiaqi Wu, Zhaoying Zhu, Ling Chen, Wei Lu Phys Ther. 2026 May 23:pzag056. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzag056. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of 7 physical therapy interventions delivered with Home Exercise Program (HEP) versus HEP alone on pain and function in plantar fasciitis (PF). DATA […]

Multimodal physiotherapy versus scapular and conventional exercise for persistent pain following breast cancer treatment: a randomized controlled trial

Authors:Virginia Prieto-Gómez, María José Yuste-Sánchez, Laura Lorenzo-Gallego, Fernando Ramos-Gómez, Beatriz Navarro-Brazález, Deborah Falla, María Torres-Lacomba J Cancer Surviv. 2026 May 23. doi: 10.1007/s11764-026-02035-z. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal physiotherapy program compared with exercise programs on pain, disability, quality of life, and shoulder muscle activation in women with […]

Environmental Scan of the United States Regulatory Practices of Physical Therapy Dry Needling

Authors:Nadine Crocker, Eric Parent Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jul;31(3):e70225. doi: 10.1002/pri.70225. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the dry needling (DN) regulation of physical therapists across United States (US) regulatory jurisdictions and assess alignment of these regulations with identified DN regulatory recommendations. METHODS: Using Choo’s modes of environmental scanning framework, we conducted a comprehensive […]

Spinal mechanisms and feasibility of Dry Needling versus Botulinum Toxin Type A in post-stroke lower limb spasticity: A proof-of-concept randomized clinical trial protocol (STROKE-POC)

Authors:Clara Pujol-Fuentes, Bart Eeckhaut, Samuel Fernández Carnero, Daniel Fernández Sanchís, Theodore Wein, Pablo Herrero, Wim Saeys, Mindy F Levin PLoS One. 2026 May 20;21(5):e0334571. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0334571. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Stroke often causes spasticity, impacting mobility and quality of life. Botulinum Toxin type A (BTX-A) and Dry Needling (DN) are treatments that reduce spasticity, although […]

Mechanically Induced Skin Renewal: Evidence-Based Insights Into Clinical, Structural and Inflammatory Changes Activated by Microneedling, Microdermabrasion and Microvibration

Authors:Arielle Springer, Elena Helfenbein, Jürgen Blaak J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026 May;25(5):e70908. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70908. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Device-based aesthetic procedures such as microneedling, microdermabrasion and microvibration have gained widespread clinical and institutional use for skin rejuvenation, yet the underlying biological mechanisms and the robustness of clinical evidence remain incompletely established. OBJECTIVE: This review synthesizes current clinical, histological […]

Comparative effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in adults with rotator cuff tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Authors:Stefano Giuseppe Lazzarini, Francesco Bettariga, Bianca Mosconi, Luca Maestroni, Claudio Cordani, Enrico Bandini, Fulvio Dal Farra, Pedro Lopez, Chiara Arienti Br J Sports Med. 2026 May 14:bjsports-2025-110024. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110024. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of different physical therapy interventions and identify the most effective intervention on pain, function, quality of […]

Correction: Placebo and nocebo effects of percutaneous needle electrolysis and dry-needling: an intra and inter-treatment sessions analysis of a three-arm randomized double-blinded controlled trial in patients with patellar tendinopathy

Authors:Víctor Doménech-García, Daniel Pecos-Martín, Julia Blasco-Abadía, Pablo Bellosta-López, María Pilar López-Royo Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Apr 28;13:1851424. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1851424. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1381515.]. PMID:42131598 | PMC:PMC13162373 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1851424

A Scoping Review of Ultrasound Visualization of Thin Acupuncture Needles Inserted into the Human Body and Reporting of Imaging Conditions

Authors:Miyono Okinaka, Tsunehiko Wada Med Acupunct. 2025 Sep 19;38(3):192-199. doi: 10.1177/19336586251378820. eCollection 2026 Jun. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to examine the existing literature on ultrasound visualization of acupuncture needles inserted into the human body, with a focus on image characteristics and methodological reproducibility. METHODS: A search of the PubMed database was conducted on […]

Frequency and Severity of Adverse Events Associated With Dry Needling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors:Gabriel Rabanal-Rodríguez, Manuel Anxo Simón-Alonso, Marcos José Navarro-Santana, César Fernández-de-Las-Peñas, Daniel Albert-Lucena, María José Díaz-Arribas, Juan Antonio Valera-Calero, Gustavo Plaza-Manzano Phys Ther. 2026 May 7:pzag050. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzag050. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT IMPORTANCE: Dry needling (DN) is widely used in musculoskeletal practice. However, the incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) associated to DN remain […]

Dry Needling and Exercise in the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review

Authors:Maria P Salazar-Arias, Carlos D Gómez-Carmona, Christian Azofeifa-Mora, Braulio Sánchez-Ureña, Sameer Badri, Daniel Rojas-Valverde Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2026 May 5. doi: 10.1055/a-2825-6294. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Musculoskeletal pain presents a major global public health burden as it is a highly prevalent and disabling health condition. Non-pharmacologic treatments such as therapeutic exercise and dry needling are […]

Treatment Guidelines and Decision Tree for Dry Needling Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Consensus Statement

Authors:Tyler Waterway, Jonathon Beougher, Robert Butler, Kelby Church, Gray Cook, Susan Falsone, Brian Hortz, Tyler Opitz, Phillip J Plisky, Edo Zylstra, RobRoy Martin Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2026 May 1;21(5):556-567. doi: 10.26603/001c.161025. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dry needling (DN) is commonly used to address pain and movement-related impairments, with the goal of improving range […]

Time-Dependent Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Treatments for Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Authors:Yisha Xu, Wenting Lin, Ziyi Qi, Zheng Yan, Qianjun Yan, Jiawen Xu, Lianguo Wu J Pain Res. 2026 Apr 27;19:604185. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S604185. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Recent reviews on lateral epicondylitis management frequently focus on single modalities or isolated outcomes. This study systematically evaluates the time-dependent efficacy and safety of eight percutaneous treatments (placebo, corticosteroids, […]

Clinical Practice Patterns in the Physiotherapy Management of Tension-Type Headache Among Spanish Physiotherapists

Authors:Ana Bravo-Vazquez, Elena De-La-Barrera-Aranda, Ernesto Anarte-Lazo, Cleofas Rodriguez-Blanco, Carlos Bernal-Utrera J Clin Med. 2026 Apr 10;15(8):2896. doi: 10.3390/jcm15082896. ABSTRACT Background: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent primary headache disorder worldwide and represents a major source of disability related to chronic pain. Despite its high prevalence, uncertainty remains regarding optimal conservative management strategies, and limited […]

Dry needling directly into trigger points is associated with improved gait parameters: a randomized controlled trial

Authors:Stephanie R Albin, Larisa R Hoffman, Cameron W MacDonald, Andrew Bates, Ann Brewer, Alexandra Gordon, Justin Hua, David Shaw, Shane L Koppenhaver, Jeffrey Hebert J Man Manip Ther. 2026 May 1:1-12. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2666327. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Although used in individuals after ankle or hindfoot injury, little is known about the effects of […]

Neuromuscular Maladaptive Changes in Spastic Muscles and Implications for Spasticity Management

Author:Sheng Li Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2026 May;37(2):213-229. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2026.01.005. Epub 2026 Feb 26. ABSTRACT This article reviews the neuromuscular maladaptation in spastic muscles, including motor unit remodeling, muscle fiber changes, and the accumulation of hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix, and fibrosis of connective tissues and fascia thickening. It highlights how these neural […]

Efficacy and safety of combining microneedling with oral doxycycline for the treatment of rosacea: a retrospective comparative cohort study

Authors:Kuanyu Xia, Yiran Peng, Zixi Jiang, Yaling Wang, Wei Shi, Mengting Chen, Guo Li, Zhixiang Zhao, Dan Jian J Dermatolog Treat. 2026 Dec;37(1):2665538. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2026.2665538. Epub 2026 Apr 30. ABSTRACT PURPOSE/AIM OF THE STUDY: Oral doxycycline (DOX) is a first-line systemic therapy for rosacea; however, persistent vascular features, such as fixed erythema and flushing, and […]

Effects of dry needling on recovery, neuromuscular function, and injury outcomes in sports athletes: a systematic review targeting the neck and related regions

Authors:Gracjan Olaniszyn, Irenusz Ryszkiel, Robert Trybulski, Cyprian Olchowy, Karol Pilis Front Public Health. 2026 Apr 13;14:1813780. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1813780. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dry needling (DN) is used in sports medicine for myofascial pain, injury and recovery, but athlete-specific effects over time are uncertain. Objective: To synthesize evidence on DN applied to cervical and related upper-quarter […]