The efficacy of intramuscular electrical stimulation in the management of patients with myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review

Chiropr Man Therap. 2021 Sep 27;29(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12998-021-00396-z. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the most common disorders causing chronic muscle pain. Almost one-third of patients with musculoskeletal complaints meet the MPS criteria. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) in patients with MPS […]

Effects of Dry Needling of Latent Trigger Points on Viscoelastic and Muscular Contractile Properties: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Within-Participant Clinical Trial

J Clin Med. 2021 Aug 27;10(17):3848. doi: 10.3390/jcm10173848. ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate changes in neuromuscular function and pain perception in latent trigger points (TrPs) in the gastrocnemius muscle after a single session of dry needling. A randomized within-participant clinical trial was conducted. Fifty volunteers with latent TrPs in the gastrocnemius muscles were explored. […]

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 […]

Are Findings From a Pragmatic Dry Needling Trial Always Applicable in the Real World?

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Sep;51(9):470-471. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2021.0202. ABSTRACT Letter to the Editor-in-Chief in response to JOSPT article “Dry needling adds no benefit to the treatment of neck pain: a sham-controlled randomized clinical trial with 1-year follow-up” by Gattie et al.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(9):470-471. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.0202. PMID:34465144 | DOI:10.2519/jospt.2021.0202

Safety of Dry Needling of the Pronator Teres Muscle in Cadavers: A Potential Treatment for Pronator Syndrome

Pain Med. 2021 Sep 14:pnab274. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab274. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Entrapment of the median nerve at the pronator teres muscle can contribute to symptoms in the forearm and wrist. The pronator teres is also involved in patterns of spasticity observed in people who had suffered a stroke. Research on treatment efficacy with […]

Effects of dry needling on mechanical and contractile properties of the upper trapezius with latent myofascial trigger points: A randomized controlled trial

Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2021 Sep 3;56:102456. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102456. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Latent trigger point (LTrP) can cause motor dysfunction and disturb normal patterns of motor recruitment. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of DN in the upper trapezius (UT) LTrP on pain and the mechanical and contractile properties of the muscle. DESIGN: A […]

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

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 […]

Effect of dry needling on lumbar muscle stiffness in patients with low back pain: A double blind, randomized controlled trial using shear wave elastography

J Man Manip Ther. 2021 Sep 16:1-11. doi: 10.1080/10669817.2021.1977069. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Background: Dry needling treatment focuses on restoring normal muscle function in patients with musculoskeletal pain; however, little research has investigated this assertion. Shear wave elastography (SWE) allows quantification of individual muscle function by estimating both resting and contracted muscle stiffness.Objective: To […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

Dry needling for the treatment of muscle spasticity in a patient with multiple sclerosis: a case report

Physiother Theory Pract. 2021 Sep 21:1-7. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1978118. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Spasticity is a common cause of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), which can negatively affect the patient’s walking and balance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of dry needling (DN) on spasticity and mobility in a female with MS. CASE DESCRIPTION: […]

Accuracy and Safety of Dry Needling Placement in the Popliteus Muscle: A Cadaveric Study

Int J Clin Pract. 2021 Jul 29:e14669. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14669. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The popliteus muscle attaches posteriorly to the joint capsule of the knee. Although it is an important rotational stabilizer and has been implicated in various knee pathologies, research on its treatment with dry needling is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To determine if […]

Physical therapy treatment of a pediatric patient with symptoms consistent with a spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality: A retrospective case report

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Jul;27:455-463. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.01.008. Epub 2021 Feb 11. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: A spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) is a relatively uncommon event that occurs in children following cervical trauma primarily due to sports-related injuries or physical abuse. CASE DESCRIPTION: This case report describes an 11-year-old wrestler that developed signs and […]

Somatosensory Pulsatile Tinnitus Syndrome (SSPT) Revisited

Int Tinnitus J. 2021 Mar 1;25(1):39-45. doi: 10.5935/0946-5448.2021009. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Our initial study reported consecutive patients with constant cardiac synchronous subjective tinnitus (pulsatile tinnitus without an identifiable acoustic source (P)) all of whom could suppress their pulsations with head and neck intense muscle contractions (“somatic testing” (ST)). The term somatosensory pulsatile tinnitus syndrome (SSPT) was […]

Immediate decrease of muscle biomechanical stiffness following dry needling in asymptomatic participants

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Jul;27:605-611. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.04.014. Epub 2021 Apr 22. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Biomechanical muscle stiffness has been linked to musculoskeletal disorders. Assessing changes in muscle stiffness following DN may help elucidate a physiologic mechanism of DN. This study characterizes the effects of dry needling (DN) to the infraspinatus, erector spinae, and gastrocnemius muscles […]

Dry needling trigger points around knee and hip joints improves function in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Jul;27:597-604. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.04.011. Epub 2021 Apr 30. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Dry needling may be an effective method to alleviate pain and improve range of motion. Controversial results have been found in previous studies using dry needling in knee problems. So, the aim of current study is to exert dry needling technique […]

Author Response to "Are Findings From a Pragmatic Dry Needling Trial Always Applicable in the Real World?"

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Sep;51(9):471-472. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2021.0202-R. ABSTRACT Author response to the JOSPT Letter to the Editor-in-Chief “Are Findings From a Pragmatic Dry Needling Trial Always Applicable in the Real World?” J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(9):471-472. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.0202-R. PMID:34465142 | DOI:10.2519/jospt.2021.0202-R