Efficacy of Dry Needling and Acupuncture in the Treatment of Neck Pain

Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Apr 3;11(2):e113627. doi: 10.5812/aapm.113627. eCollection 2021 Apr. ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Neck pain is a common phenomenon and affects a large segment of the population. Chronic neck pain, lasting more than 3 months, likely occurs in 10% – 30% of patients with acute neck pain and affects up to 288 million cases globally, […]

Effects of Dry Needling on Biomechanical Properties of the Myofascial Trigger Points Measured by Myotonometry: A Randomized Controlled Trial

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2021 Aug 7:S0161-4754(21)00076-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2021.06.002. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of dry needling (DN) on the biomechanical properties of a latent medial myofascial trigger point (MTrP) of the soleus muscle compared with an adjacent point within the taut band […]

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 […]

The effect of dry needling of myofascial trigger points on muscle stiffness and motoneuron excitability in healthy subjects

Acupunct Med. 2021 Jul 20:9645284211027579. doi: 10.1177/09645284211027579. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are hypersensitive nodules in a taut band (TB) of skeletal muscle. Dry needling (DN) is an invasive technique recommended for the treatment of MTrPs. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the influence of the DN technique […]

Surgical and Non-surgical Treatment Options for Piriformis Syndrome: A Literature Review

Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Feb 2;11(1):e112825. doi: 10.5812/aapm.112825. eCollection 2021 Feb. ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Piriformis syndrome is a solely clinical diagnosis that often eludes the practitioner and goes underdiagnosed. PS is a pain syndrome and for those it affects, causes persistent pain and limits daily activity and work capacity. It is a form of deep gluteal […]

Similar Benefits Seen After Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy or Autologous Blood Injection in Patients With Chronic Plantar Fasciitis-A Retrospective Cohort Study

Clin J Sport Med. 2021 Jul 7. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000930. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis after extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) or autologous blood injection (ABI). DESIGN: Cohort study-retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Hospital-based Sports Medicine Outpatient Clinic. PATIENTS: One hundred two consecutive patients […]

Ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal interventional procedures around the elbow, hand and wrist excluding carpal tunnel procedures

J Ultrason. 2021 Jun 7;21(85):e169-e176. doi: 10.15557/JoU.2021.0027. Epub 2021 Jun 18. ABSTRACT Ultrasound is a fast, reliable and radiation-free method for the assessment of a wide range of pathological conditions, as well as for the guidance of percutaneous interventional procedures around the elbow, hand and wrist. Intraarticular and periarticular interventional procedures can be easily performed […]

Dry needling has lasting analgesic effect in shoulder pain: a double-blind, sham-controlled trial

Pain Rep. 2021 Jun 28;6(2):e939. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000939. eCollection 2021 Jul-Aug. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) affects most patients with chronic shoulder pain. Dry needling (DN) is a common treatment for MPS, but its temporal pattern and sensory effects remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated in a randomized, sham-controlled study the pattern of analgesic efficacy and […]

Future Challenges for Physical Therapy during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study on the Experience of Physical Therapists in Spain

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 7;18(16):8368. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168368. ABSTRACT This qualitative exploratory study addressed the perspectives of Spanish physical therapists (PTs) regarding (a) the organization of their work during the first wave of the pandemic; (b) their role within the intensive care units (ICUs); (c) management of COVID-19 survivors; (d) potential future […]

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 […]

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

Common Dermatologic Procedures and the Associated Complications Unique to Skin of Color

Dermatol Surg. 2021 Mar 1;47(3):355-359. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000002813. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The skin of color (SOC) population in the United States continues to grow, and these patients are undergoing various cosmetic and surgical procedures at increasing rates. There is a paucity of data on the potential complications associated with surgical and cosmetic procedures in this patient population. […]

Manual joint mobilisation techniques, supervised physical activity, psychological treatment, acupuncture and patient education for patients with tension-type headache. A systematic review and meta-analysis

J Headache Pain. 2021 Aug 21;22(1):96. doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01298-4. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Tension-type headache (TTH) has been ranked the second most prevalent health condition worldwide. Non-pharmacological treatments for TTH are widely used as a supplement or an alternative to medical treatment. However, the evidence for their effects are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to […]

Effectiveness of dry needling techniques in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Jul;27:328-338. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.02.015. Epub 2021 Mar 4. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Dry needling has been found to be effective in various myofascial pain syndromes and musculoskeletal conditions. However, there is a need to evaluate the effects of dry needling techniques in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Hence, the objective of this systematic review […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 versus Trigger Point Injection for Neck Pain Symptoms Associated with Myofascial Trigger Points: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Pain Med. 2021 Jun 11:pnab188. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab188. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of dry needling against trigger point (TrP) injections (wet needling) applied to TrPs associated with neck pain. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for randomized clinical trials where dry needling was compared to TrP injections (wet needling) applied to […]

Image-guided intervention in the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy with calcification: a three-pronged approach

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Jun 11;14(6):e240553. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240553. ABSTRACT Patellar tendinopathy is a common cause of knee pain and functional impairment in athletes. It is commonly managed using conservative measures such as physiotherapy, but cases that are refractory to such treatment may require a more invasive approach. Various forms of image-guided injection therapy have been […]

Physiological and Biochemical Evaluation of Different Types of Recovery in National Level Paralympic Powerlifting

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 13;18(10):5155. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18105155. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Recovery from training is vital as it ensures training and performance to continue at high intensities and longer durations to stimulate the body and cause further adaptations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate different methods of post-workout recovery in Paralympic powerlifting athletes. METHODS: Twelve male […]