Neurophysiological and clinical effects of dry needling in patients with upper trapezius myofascial trigger points. Issue 1 (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abbaszadeh-Amirdehi, Maryam; Ansari, Noureddin Nakhostin; Naghdi, Soofia; Olyaei, Gholamreza; Nourbakhsh, Mohammad Reza
• Is Part Of: Journal of bodywork and movement therapies. Volume 21:Issue 1(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Myofascial trigger point -- Dry needling -- Sympathetic skin response -- Neuromuscular junction response; Massage -- Periodicals; Exercise therapy -- Periodicals; Manipulation (Therapeutics) -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 615.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.04.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-8592

Abstract

Summary: Introduction: Dry needling (DN) is a widely used in treatment of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). The purpose of this pretest-posttest clinical trial was to investigate the neurophysiological and clinical effects of DN in patients with MTrPs. Methods: A sample of 20 patients (3 man, 17 women; mean age 31.7 ± 10.8) with upper trapezius MTrPs received one session of deep DN. The outcomes of neuromuscular junction response (NMJR), sympathetic skin response (SSR), pain intensity (PI) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were measured at baseline and immediately after DN. Results: There were significant improvements in SSR latency and amplitude, pain, and PPT after DN. The NMJR decreased and returned to normal after DN. Conclusions: A single session of DN to the active upper trapezius MTrP was effective in improving pain, PPT, NMJR, and SSR in patients with myofascial trigger points. Further studies are needed.