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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

Accuracy of rib palpation for dry needling of deep periscapular musculature, measured with ultrasound

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Apr;26:7-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.10.008. Epub 2020 Oct 13. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Dry needling of the periscapular musculature is a procedure commonly performed by physical therapists. Needling of the deep musculature may be challenging, and use of a thoracic rib as a “backstop” is often applied to prevent inadvertent puncture of the pleura. […]

Dry needling strategies for musculoskeletal conditions: Do the number of needles and needle retention time matter? A narrative literature review

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Apr;26:353-363. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.12.003. Epub 2020 Dec 3. ABSTRACT Acupuncture and dry needling are both minimally invasive procedures that use thin, filiform needles without injectate for the management of a variety of neuromusculoskeletal pain conditions. While the theoretical constructs underlying the use of acupuncture and dry needling are unique, both appear […]

Comparison between dry needling plus manual therapy with manual therapy alone on pain and function in overhead athletes with scapular dyskinesia: A randomized clinical trial

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Apr;26:339-346. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.11.017. Epub 2020 Nov 24. ABSTRACT Muscles’ trigger points can induce scapular dyskinesia (SD) which interferes with overhead athletes’ professional training. We aimed to evaluate effects of dry needling (DN) alone and plus manual therapy (MT) on pain and function of overhead athletes with SD. 40 overhead athletes […]

Corrigendum to 'Spinal manipulation and perineural electrical dry needling in patients with cervicogenic headache: a multi-center randomized clinical trial' [The Spine Journal 21/2 (2021) p284-295]

Spine J. 2021 May 22:S1529-9430(21)00197-2. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2021.04.014. Online ahead of print. NO ABSTRACT PMID:34034968 | DOI:10.1016/j.spinee.2021.04.014

Protocols Used by Occupational Therapists on Shoulder Pain after Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Occup Ther Int. 2021 May 3;2021:8811721. doi: 10.1155/2021/8811721. eCollection 2021. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Shoulder pain as a consequence after a stroke has multifactorial causes and can prevent the functional return of the upper limb. In addition, the effectiveness of clinical protocols applied by occupational therapists remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To identify the main treatments currently used by […]

The effect of dry needling & muscle energy technique separately and in combination in patients suffering shoulder impingement syndrome and active trigger points of infraspinatus

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2021 Apr;26:94-100. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.12.030. Epub 2020 Dec 28. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a combination of dry needling (DN) and muscle energy technique (MET) on pain intensity (PI), pressure pain threshold (PPT) and shoulder active range of motion (ROM) in patients with shoulder […]

Comparative Efficacy of Nonoperative Treatments for Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Clin J Sport Med. 2021 Mar 12. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000924. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: An evolved understanding of the pathophysiology of greater trochanteric pain syndrome has led to a number of proposed nonoperative management strategies. The objective of this review was to compare the efficacy of the various nonoperative treatments for greater trochanteric pain […]