Archives

Physical therapists’ modalities and decision-making in the treatment of myofascial trigger points: an exploratory cross-sectional survey in the United States

Authors:Richard Clark, Dena Fawzi, Owen Johnson, Olivia Perry, Haley Steinhafel, Makenna Vandygriffe J Man Manip Ther. 2026 Sep 8:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2026.2729532. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: To identify the modalities most commonly used by outpatient physical therapists in the United States for the treatment of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), determine how frequently those modalities […]

Neuroimmune Phenotyping as the Next Frontier in Chronic Pain Medicine for Musculoskeletal Back Pain

Authors:Samer G Salman, Rohan A Phadke, Adithya Nair, Rahul Kumar, Arbaz Momin, Alireza Tavakkoli, James Rizkalla Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2026 Sep 5;30(1):119. doi: 10.1007/s11916-026-01561-w. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain encompasses heterogeneous mechanical, neuropathic, nociplastic, and myofascial presentations that may reflect distinct neuroimmune mechanisms. We synthesized evidence linking these phenotypes to measurable biological features […]

Electroacupuncture promotes the repair of lacrimal glands damage in dry-eye animal models by modulating the BDNF/CREB signaling pathway

Authors:Liujiao Li, Li Shi, Huxing Shen, Xue Liu, Dan Luo, Huijie Ji, Weiping Gao, Jiaojiao Wang J Tradit Complement Med. 2025 Aug 27;16(5):480-491. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2025.08.002. eCollection 2026 Sep. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dry eye disease (DED) is an eye disorder with global prevalence. Its treatment using electroacupuncture (EA) has shown exceptional clinical efficacy. This study […]

Investigation of the efficacy of dry needling added to physical therapy in supraspinatus tendinopathy

Authors:Ayşe Güliz Kırıköz, Cevriye Mülkoğlu Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2026 Sep 4. doi: 10.4274/tftrd.2026.16776. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dry needling (DN) in addition to conventional physical therapy and rehabilitation (PTR) program in patients with supraspinatus tendinopathy presenting with shoulder pain. PATIENTS AND […]

Calcific Patellar Tendinopathy. A Case Report Integrating Diagnostic Ultrasound Throughout a Multi-Modal Treatment Approach

Authors:Ian Young, Adam Salzman, James Dunning, Joshua Prall, Sam Fischer, Brittany Forbes, James Escaloni Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2026 Sep 2;21(9):879-889. doi: 10.26603/001c.167449. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Calcific tendinopathy can be difficult to diagnose and manage from a traditional, non-invasive physical therapy perspective. However, there is preliminary evidence supporting the use of diagnostic ultrasound […]

Pathological similarities between degenerative enthesopathy and rheumatic enthesitis: the role of ECM stiffness and Wolff’s Law-based mechanical stimulation as a therapeutic strategy

Authors:Kang Ahn, Aerisa Ahn, Seung Jun Oh, Hyun Sung Kim Front Rehabil Sci. 2026 Aug 20;7:1716050. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2026.1716050. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT Degenerative enthesopathy and rheumatic enthesitis have traditionally been regarded as distinct disorders driven by mechanical overload and immune dysregulation, respectively. However, increasing evidence suggests that the mechanobiological links between these conditions have been underappreciated. […]

Immediate and Short-Term Effects of Electro-Dry Needling on Thermal Temporal Summation in Healthy Adults

Authors:Max Jordon, Frank Tudini, Matthew Grubb JOSPT Open. 2026 Jul;4(3):367-373. doi: 10.2519/josptopen.2026.0204. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the local and distal immediate and short-term effects of a single session of electro-dry needling (EDN) on thermal temporal summation (TS) in asymptomatic adults. DESIGN: This was a single-group repeated-measures intervention study. METHODS: […]

Dry Needling Versus Manual Therapy for Mechanical Neck Pain: A Target Trial Emulation Using Electronic Health Records

Authors:Wenjun Zhang, Xin Zhang, Lihua Huang, Shengdi Lu, Lei Yu Pain Res Manag. 2026;2026(1):e3221855. doi: 10.1155/prm/3221855. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of dry needling versus manual therapy on disability in mechanical neck pain by emulating a target trial using electronic health record data from three tertiary hospitals in China. DESIGN: This target trial emulation […]

SurgFusion-Net: Diversified Adaptive Multimodal Fusion Network for Surgical Skill Assessment

Authors:Runlong He, Freweini M Tesfai, Matthew W E Boal, Nazir Sirajudeen, Dimitrios Anastasiou, Jialang Xu, Mobarak I Hoque, Philip J Edwards, John D Kelly, Ashwin Sridhar, Abdolrahim Kadkhodamohammadi, Dhivya Chandrasekaran, Matthew J Clarkson, Danail Stoyanov, Nader Francis, Evangelos B Mazomenos IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2026 Aug 10;PP. doi: 10.1109/TMI.2026.3722251. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Robotic-assisted […]

Rapid Pain Reduction Following a Multimodal Physiotherapy Protocol in a Retrospective Case Series of Patients With Persistent Scrotal Content Pain

Authors:Christopher Mendias, Tariq M Awan Cureus. 2026 Jul 25;18(7):e113378. doi: 10.7759/cureus.113378. eCollection 2026 Jul. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Scrotal content pain (SCP) is a clinically significant condition that can substantially impair quality of life. The causes of SCP are heterogeneous and may include urologic, neuropathic, musculoskeletal, vascular, inflammatory, referred, and psychosocial contributors. In some patients, dysfunction of […]

Myofascial Trigger Point-Augmented Acupuncture vs Conventional Acupuncture for Early- to Mid-Stage Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors:Longyao Zhang, Jiankang Xu, Lingling Jiang, Kuiliang Gao, Hongfei Xue, Yulei Li, Aifeng Liu, Chao Zhang J Pain Res. 2026 Aug 18;19:634945. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S634945. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To determine whether adding myofascial trigger point (MTrP)-targeted dry needling to conventional acupuncture improves short-term pain and function response in adults with early- to mid-stage knee osteoarthritis […]

Electrical Dry Needling and Therapeutic Exercise Versus Therapeutic Exercise in Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors:Inmaculada C Lara-Palomo, Adrián Bautista-Rodríguez, Jose María Muñoz-Manzaneda, Elena Álvarez-López, Elena Barragán-Olea, Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Aug 20;15:e91491. doi: 10.2196/91491. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNSNP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders worldwide. Its etiology is multifactorial, and it constitutes a leading cause of work absenteeism and a significant […]

Efficacy of dry needling in reducing spasticity after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors:Xinyi Yuan, Ziwen Wang, Huiru Zhang, Yongqiang Li, Dianhuai Meng Complement Ther Med. 2026 Aug 15:103420. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103420. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of dry needling (DN) in reducing spasticity among post-stroke patients through meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Embase were searched up […]

A review of the synergistic mechanisms of Yijinjing, meridian sinew therapy, dry needling, and Fascial Manipulation in chronic cervical myofascial pain based on the fascia-meridian sinew continuum

Authors:Mengyao Liu, Yongkai Li, Rong Bian Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Jul 23;13:1881739. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1881739. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT Chronic cervical myofascial pain is a common and disabling musculoskeletal pain condition, yet its persistence is unlikely to be explained by a single local lesion. Current evidence points to a multilevel process involving hypersensitive nodal sites, impaired fascial […]

“Dry Needling in Plastic Surgery: Enhancing Surgical Ergonomics, Wellness, and Patient Optimization Through Myofascial Pain Management”

Authors:Stephanie Taiberg, Aaron L Wiegmann, George Kokosis Plast Reconstr Surg. 2026 Aug 5. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000013368. Online ahead of print. NO ABSTRACT PMID:42554660 | DOI:10.1097/PRS.0000000000013368

Interventional Procedures in Sports

Authors:Thomas Le Corroller, Pierre Champsaur Radiol Clin North Am. 2026 Sep;64(5):803-812. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2026.05.001. Epub 2026 Jun 25. ABSTRACT Image-guided percutaneous procedures are increasingly important in managing sports-related overuse and degenerative injuries. Corticosteroid injections remain widely used to reduce inflammation in conditions such as tendinopathies, cartilage lesions, synovitis, joint impingement, and spinal degeneration. However, treatment is […]

Clinical effect of kinesio taping combined with dry needling to myofascial trigger point on shoulder-hand syndrome in hemiplegia patients: a randomized controlled trial

Authors:Xuehai Lv, Zhengmao Xiang, Cheng Chang, Pengna Hao, Linxi Li, Nuan Yang, Yinuo Guo, Jia Chai, Xiaofei Zhou, Xiaoshuai Zhu, Yuemin Gao, Yiping Wu Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2026 Aug 3. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.26.09209-9. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) is a common complication after stroke, characterized by pain, edema, and functional […]

Current Evidence, Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions of Rotator Cuff Failure: A Systematic Review

Authors:Maithili V Potdar, Sandeep Shinde, Akshaya V Joshi, Sanjaykumar Patil Cureus. 2026 Jul 3;18(7):e111998. doi: 10.7759/cureus.111998. eCollection 2026 Jul. ABSTRACT Rotator cuff tears (RTs) are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions worldwide, imposing substantial burdens of chronic pain, functional limitation, and socioeconomic cost. The underlying pathophysiology is multifactorial, encompassing progressive mechanical attrition, tendon degeneration, and […]

Current status and research gaps of neuromodulation in the rehabilitation of knee osteoarthritis: a scoping review

Authors:Hengjia Liu, Qiang Tang Front Neurol. 2026 Jul 15;17:1845945. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1845945. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease with a growing global disease burden, yet traditional interventions have limited efficacy. Neuromodulation has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological rehabilitation strategy for KOA, but existing reviews have not systematically synthesized […]

Beyond Structural Pathology: Central Sensitization and Chronic Pain with Reference to Lumbar Disc Herniation-A Narrative Review

Authors:Igor Kordowski, Maciej Chroboczek Brain Sci. 2026 Jun 25;16(7):664. doi: 10.3390/brainsci16070664. ABSTRACT Chronic pain is increasingly understood as a multidimensional condition in which, in a substantial subgroup of patients, a protective symptom can evolve into a persistent maladaptive disorder of the nervous system, while in others it may remain closely tied to ongoing mechanical or […]