The Effect of Adding Dry Needling to Physical Therapy in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pain Med. 2021 Oct 23:pnab312. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab312. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term effect of adding real or sham dry needling with conventional physiotherapy in cervicogenic headache. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Physiotherapy Clinic, Rouhani Hospital of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. SUBJECTS: Sixty-nine patients with cervicogenic headache. METHODS: […]

Evaluating Effectiveness of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for the Pain Nature and Quality of Life in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Study Protocol of Randomized Clinical Trial

J Pain Res. 2021 Oct 9;14:3163-3172. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S333299. eCollection 2021. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common clinical disease. Knee pain is the major symptom of knee OA and the primary reason why patients seek treatment. Fu’s subcutaneous needling (FSN) has been used to treat knee OA for more than 20 years. However, the […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Comparison of the efficacy of corticosteroid, dry needling, and PRP application in lateral epicondylitis

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2021 Oct 6. doi: 10.1007/s00590-021-03138-2. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term efficacy of dry needling, corticosteroids, and platelet-rich plasma application (PRP) in the management of lateral epicondylitis. METHODS: The study included 72 patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis divided into three […]

Autologous blood and platelet-rich plasma injection therapy for lateral elbow pain

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Sep 30;9:CD010951. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010951.pub2. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Autologous whole blood or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are commonly used to treat lateral elbow pain (also known as tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis or epicondylalgia). Based on animal models and observational studies, these injections may modulate tendon injury healing, but randomised controlled trials […]

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. […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

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: […]

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 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 […]

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

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 […]