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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 in Teres Major Muscle in Elite Handball Athletes. A Randomised Controlled Trial

J Clin Med. 2021 Sep 20;10(18):4260. doi: 10.3390/jcm10184260. ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the effects of dry needling (DN) in active myofascial trigger points in the teres major muscle compared to an untreated control group in pain during throwing actions, shoulder range of motion (ROM), strength, and extensibility of the tissues in professional handball (HB) athletes. […]

Is Dry Needling of the Supinator a Safe Procedure? A Potential Treatment for Lateral Epicondylalgia or Radial Tunnel Syndrome. A Cadaveric Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 31;18(17):9162. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179162. ABSTRACT The supinator muscle is involved in two pain conditions of the forearm and wrist: lateral epicondylalgia and radial tunnel syndrome. Its close anatomical relationship with the radial nerve at the arcade of Frohse encourages research on dry needling approaches. Our aim was to […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

Comparison of the effects of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and dry needling on active myofascial trigger points of upper trapezius muscle

Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2021 May 8;35:59. doi: 10.47176/mjiri.35.59. eCollection 2021. ABSTRACT Background: Myofascial pain syndrome is one of the most common complaints in patients referring to orthopedic treatment centers. The present study aimed to examine the effects of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and dry needling (DN) on active myofascial trigger points (AMTrP) […]

The scientific basis of acupuncture for veterinary pain management: A review based on relevant literature from the last two decades

Open Vet J. 2021 Apr-Jun;11(2):203-209. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i2.3. Epub 2021 Apr 15. ABSTRACT The practice of acupuncture is becoming increasingly popular in veterinary medicine, especially as a method of providing pain relief. Originally based on principles derived from centuries of observation, conventional scientific mechanisms of action for acupuncture as a pain-relieving modality have recently been elucidated. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]