Acute and Short-Term Effects of Dry Needling in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Hamstring Tightness: A Pilot Study

ScientificWorldJournal. 2021 Nov 20;2021:7259956. doi: 10.1155/2021/7259956. eCollection 2021. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) is one of the common health issues. Hamstring tightness contributes to the development of LBP. This study aimed to investigate the acute and short-term effects of deep dry needling (DN) in patients with chronic nonspecific LBP and hamstring muscle […]

Efficacy of Exercise on Postneedling Soreness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

J Clin Med. 2021 Nov 25;10(23):5527. doi: 10.3390/jcm10235527. ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of concentric, eccentric, and isometric exercise protocols on the postneedling soreness (PNS) after the dry needling (DN) of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrP) in the medial gastrocnemius muscle. A randomized clinical trial was carried out. Volunteers, ≥18 years old, […]

Neurophysiological and psychophysical effects of dry versus sham needling of the infraspinatus muscle in patients with chronic shoulder pain: a randomized feasibility study

Arch Physiother. 2021 Oct 18;11(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s40945-021-00118-x. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dry needling (DN) is increasingly used for treating myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and has shown significant effects on pain and function. This study aimed to assess feasibility of conducting a randomized sham-controlled trial and to collect preliminary data on the effects of infraspinatus DN on corticospinal […]

A mixed-methods survey of physiotherapists who practice acupuncture and dry needling in Ontario, Canada: practice characteristics, motivations, and professional outcomes

BMC Complement Med Ther. 2021 Oct 19;21(1):264. doi: 10.1186/s12906-021-03440-w. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Physiotherapists (PTs) across the globe are increasingly incorporating filiform needling techniques (e.g., acupuncture, dry needling) into their clinical toolkits; and, the evidence base for these complementary therapies is becoming progressively more robust. However, to date, little is known about needling PTs themselves. METHODS: Using […]

The utilization of dry needling and an upper extremity exercise program for individuals with cervicogenic headaches: A pilot study

Cranio. 2021 Oct 23:1-11. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2021.1994226. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a combination of dry-needling treatments and upper extremity neuromuscular reeducation exercises can significantly improve neck pain and/or headache-related disability, joint position error, cervical range of motion, and pain pressure threshold in individuals suffering from cervicogenic headache (CGH). METHODS: This study […]

Treatment of thoracic spine pain and pseudovisceral symptoms with dry needling and manual therapy in a 78-year-old female: A case report

Physiother Theory Pract. 2021 Oct 10:1-9. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1987603. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT DESIGN: Case Report. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thoracic spine pain and movement dysfunction is a relatively common problem in the general population but has received little attention in research. Dry needling is frequently utilized by physical therapists and has been shown to reduce […]

The hierarchy of different treatments for myogenous temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021 Oct 21. doi: 10.1007/s10006-021-01009-y. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT The best treatment modality for the management of painful temporomandibular disorders of muscular origin (M-TMD) with predictable outcomes based on solid evidence is still not well defined. Thus, the aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to identify the best treatment for […]

Lingnan fire needling combined with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops in the treatment of xerophthalmia: a randomized controlled trial

Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2021 Oct 25;46(10):863-8. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.200960. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Lingnan fire needling combined with artificial tears in the treatment of xerophthalmia. METHODS: A total of 86 xerophthalmia patients were equally and randomly divided into treatment group and control group. The patients of both groups were received treatment with […]

Cost-effectiveness of upper extremity dry needling in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke

Acupunct Med. 2021 Dec 2:9645284211055750. doi: 10.1177/09645284211055750. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Dry needling (DN) has been shown to be effective for the treatment of upper extremity hypertonia in patients with stroke. PURPOSE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DN in patients with stroke. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed in a research study conducted […]

Effects of dry needling in lower extremity myofascial trigger points

J Pak Med Assoc. 2021 Nov;71(11):2596-2603. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.01398. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To explore the current evidences on effects of trigger point dry needling as a treatment strategy on pain and range of motion among subjects with lower extremity myofascial trigger areas. METHODS: The systematic review was conducted at the University Institute of Physical Therapy, Lahore, Pakistan, […]

Effects of dry needling of the obliquus capitis inferior on sensorimotor control and cervical mobility in people with neck pain: A double-blind, randomized sham-controlled trial

Braz J Phys Ther. 2021 Sep 5:S1413-3555(21)00083-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2021.07.005. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Impairments of sensorimotor control relating to head and eye movement control and postural stability are often present in people with neck pain. The upper cervical spine and particularly the obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) play an important proprioceptive role; and its […]

Critical appraisal of "The use of dry needling vs. corticosteroid injection to treat lateral epicondylitis: a prospective, randomized, controlled study"

J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2021 Sep 16:S1058-2746(21)00667-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2021.08.014. Online ahead of print. NO ABSTRACT PMID:34537340 | DOI:10.1016/j.jse.2021.08.014

Qualitative ultrasonography scale of the intensity of local twitch response during dry needling and its association with modified joint range of motion: a cross-sectional study

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Sep 14;22(1):790. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04592-z. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The relevance of local twitch response (LTR) during dry needling technique (DNT) is controversial, and it is questioned whether LTR is necessary for successful outcomes. Furthermore, because the LTR during the deep DNT may be evoked with different intensities, it is unknown whether the magnitude […]

Effects of dry needling on gait and muscle tone in Parkinson's disease: a randomized clinical trial

Acupunct Med. 2021 Sep 19:9645284211039232. doi: 10.1177/09645284211039232. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Alterations in gait and muscular rigidity are common and disabling in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether a single dry needling (DN) session can promote changes in gait and muscle tone in the […]

A collaborative experiential problem-solving approach to develop shams for complex physical interventions: a case study of dry needling

Physiotherapy. 2021 Aug 8:S0031-9406(21)00076-6. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2021.08.004. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Complex physical interventions are widely used in physiotherapy, despite doubts over the validity of clinical trial results due to lack of credible shams. Credible shams are critically needed, so too, therefore, is a process by which they can be developed. The authors used […]

Dry Needling of Tight Hamstrings in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

Iran J Public Health. 2021 Jul;50(7):1511-1512. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v50i7.6653. NO ABSTRACT PMID:34568199 | PMC:PMC8426762 | DOI:10.18502/ijph.v50i7.6653

Intramuscular Injections and Dry Needling within Masticatory Muscles in Management of Myofascial Pain. Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 10;18(18):9552. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189552. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain is an important cause of disability among the whole population, and it is a common symptom of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). Its management techniques vary widely; however, in recent years, there has been a growing interest especially in needling therapies […]

A novel blinding protocol to test participant and therapist blinding during dry needling: a randomised controlled experiment

Physiotherapy. 2021 Aug 25:S0031-9406(21)00082-1. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2021.08.007. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Dry needling is widely used in physiotherapy. Lack of blinding in clinical trials means that dry needling effects and mechanisms remain unclear, with blinding issues accepted as an unavoidable barrier to better evidence. The authors aimed to overcome this barrier by designing a […]

Analysis and comparison of pain pressure threshold and active cervical range of motion after superficial and deep dry needling techniques of the upper trapezius muscle

Acupunct Med. 2021 Sep 23:9645284211039523. doi: 10.1177/09645284211039523. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the changes in pain pressure threshold (PPT) and active cervical range of motion (ACROM) after the application of superficial dry needling (DN) or deep DN in myofascial trigger point (MTrP) 1 of the upper trapezius versus a simulated DN technique […]

A Systematic Dry Needling Treatment Supports Recovery Post-Training for Division I Ice Hockey Athletes: An Exploration Case Series

J Athl Train. 2021 Sep 20. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0096.21. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Four student-athletes (aged 20 to 22 years old) participating in NCAA Division I ice hockey served as cases. Cases were free of injury, and participated in all team activities without restrictions. A dry needling (DN) lower extremity recovery protocol was completed on […]