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 […]

Trigger Point Electrical Dry Needling with Different Waveforms Plus Intra-Articular Corticosteroid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors:Yulian Lin, Wensen Jia, Chang Liu, Yujia Tang, Yan Yuan J Pain Res. 2026 Apr 23;19:595268. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S595268. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis is a common musculoskeletal disorder associated with pain, functional limitation, and substantial healthcare burden. PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of trigger point electrical dry needling (electrical-DN) with different waveforms, combined with […]

Time-resolved X-ray radiography of through-thickness liquid transport in partly saturated needle-punched nonwovens

Authors:Patrick Wegele, Zisheng Yao, Jonas Tejbo, Julia K Rogalinski, Tomas Rosén, Alexander Groetsch, Kim Nygård, Eleni Myrto Asimakopoulou, Pablo Villanueva-Perez, L Daniel Söderberg Exp Fluids. 2026;67(5):56. doi: 10.1007/s00348-026-04201-6. Epub 2026 Apr 25. ABSTRACT Nonwoven fibre networks underpin filtration, insulation and geotextiles, where liquid uptake, redistribution and release govern performance. In needle-punched felts, barbed needles mechanically […]

Comparison of ultrasound-guided dry needling and platelet-rich plasma injection in the management of refractory lateral epicondyle tendinopathy

Authors:Mustafa Mert Terzi, Yusuf Kıratlıoğlu, Uğur Bezirgan, Mehmet Armangil Clin Shoulder Elb. 2026 Apr 28. doi: 10.5397/cise.2025.01389. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: This prospective randomized study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided dry needling and platelet-rich plasma injections in patients with refractory lateral epicondyle tendinopathy. METHODS: Fifty patients (25 in each group) […]

Dry Needling of the Abductor Hallucis Muscle in Management of Hallux Valgus: Effects on Pain, Function, and Angle

Authors:Burak Tayyip Dede, Ayşenur Ada, Muhammed Oguz, Berat Bulut, Fatih Bagcier, Mustafa Turgut Yildizgoren, Ebru Aytekin J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2026 Apr 16;116(2):18. doi: 10.3390/japma116020018. ABSTRACT Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dry needling (DN) applied to the abductor hallucis (ABH) muscle on pain function and angle in […]

Have we missed the point? Myofascial trigger points, dry needling and a case for a bidirectional reframe

Authors:Gary A Kearns, Jace Brown J Man Manip Ther. 2026 Apr 24:1-7. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2665282. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) have long been framed as local tissue abnormalities that initiate peripheral nociceptive input through a predominantly bottom-up cascade. This clinical commentary proposes a bidirectional, patient-centered lens for interpreting myofascial sensitivity that […]

The Use of Microneedling With Exosomes in Dermatology: A Systematic Review

Authors:Navnit Kaur Dhaliwal, Thurkga Moothathamby, Balamrit Singh Sokhal, Maria-Angeliki Gkini J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026 Apr;25(4):e70881. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70881. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Microneedling combined with exosome therapy has growing clinical relevance in dermatology. This systematic review will critically evaluate current evidence on the combined use of microneedling and exosomes in a number of dermatological diseases. METHOD: A systematic […]

Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive Therapy Versus Dry Needling for Active Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Points: Effects on Pain and Cervical Range of Motion a Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors:Tomasz Piętka, Katarzyna Knapik, Grzegorz Onik, Karolina Sieroń Healthcare (Basel). 2026 Mar 27;14(7):860. doi: 10.3390/healthcare14070860. ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) therapy in treating active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle (UT) and to compare it with the effects […]

The effectiveness of dry needling at myofascial trigger points for knee disorders: A quantitative synthesis of randomized controlled trials

Authors:Xin Hu, Ting Lei, Zheng Liu, Zhenchao Xu, Guanghui Zhu PLoS One. 2026 Apr 10;21(4):e0346129. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0346129. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Dry needling (DN) targeting myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) has been proposed as a treatment for knee disorders, including knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of DN in […]

A Systematic Review of Dry Needling Parameters for Improvements in Muscle Performance

Authors:Yifan Liu, Yongni Zhang, Susan Falsone, RobRoy L Martin Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2026 Apr 6. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002974. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Despite strong physiological evidence supporting dry needling (DN), clinical findings on muscle performance remain inconsistent, likely due to treatment parameter variability. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evidence for the effect of […]

Physical Therapy Management of Scapular Dyskinesis Due to Spinal Accessory Nerve Palsy Secondary to Neuralgic Amyotrophy: A Case Report

Author:Michael P Groesch Cureus. 2026 Mar 9;18(3):e104935. doi: 10.7759/cureus.104935. eCollection 2026 Mar. ABSTRACT This case report describes a rare clinical presentation of spinal accessory nerve (SAN) palsy secondary to neuralgic amyotrophy and discusses physical therapy differential diagnosis, interventions, and outcomes. The patient was a 37-year-old left-hand-dominant Caucasian male who presented to physical therapy with right-sided […]

Radiofrequency Microneedling for Facial Rejuvenation: A Systematic Review

Authors:Narendra Kumar, Dong Hye Suh, Sang Jun Lee, Shaheen Amna Kasif, Jean D A Carruthers J Cosmet Dermatol. 2026 Apr;25(4):e70845. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70845. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency microneedling (RFMN) is a prominent minimally invasive treatment for facial rejuvenation. While individual studies report positive outcomes, a comprehensive synthesis of evidence across efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction is lacking. […]