Immediate Changes in Widespread Pressure Pain Sensitivity, Neck Pain, and Cervical Range of Motion After Cervical or Thoracic Thrust Manipulation in Patients With Bilateral Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This study aimed to evaluate changes in neuromuscular function and pain perception in latent trigger points (TrPs) in the gastrocnemius muscle after a single session of dry needling. A randomized within-participant clinical trial was conducted. Fifty volunteers with latent TrPs in the gastrocnemius muscles were explored. Each extremity was randomly assigned to a control or experimental (dry needling) group. Viscoelastic parameters and contractile properties were analyzed by tensiomyography. Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was assessed with the lunge test. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) and pain perceived were also analyzed. The results observed that three viscoelastic proprieties (myotonometry) showed significant differences in favor of the experimental extremity in the lateral gastrocnemius: stiffness (p = 0.02), relaxation (p = 0.045), and creep (p = 0.03), but not in the medial gastrocnemius. No changes in tensiomyography outcomes were found. The control extremity showed a higher increase in PPTs (i.e., decrease in pressure pain sensitivity) than the experimental extremity (p = 0.03). No significant effects for range of motion or strength were observed. In general, gender did not influence the effects of dry needling over latent TrPs in the gastrocnemius muscle. In conclusion, a single session of dry needling was able to change some parameters of neuromuscular function, such as muscle tone, relaxation, pressure pain sensitivity, and creep in the lateral (but not medial) gastrocnemius but did not improve strength or range of motion.

Download Full-text

Effect of global posture reeducation and of static stretching on pain, range of motion, and quality of life in women with chronic neck pain: a randomized clinical trial

Clinics ◽

10.1590/s1807-59322008000600010 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Ana Cláudia Violino Cunha ◽

Thomaz Nogueira Burke ◽

Fábio Jorge Renovato França ◽

Amélia Pasqual Marques

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Clinical Trial ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Randomized Clinical Trial ◽

Chronic Neck Pain ◽

Static Stretching

Download Full-text

Short-Term Effects of Cervical Kinesio Taping on Pain and Cervical Range of Motion in Patients With Acute Whiplash Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy ◽

10.2519/jospt.2009.3072 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 39 (7) ◽

pp. 515-521 ◽

Cited By ~ 175

Author(s):

Javier GonzáLez-Iglesias ◽

César Fernández-de-las-Peñas ◽

Joshua Cleland ◽

Peter Huijbregts ◽

Maria Del Rosario Gutiérrez-Vega

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Randomized Clinical Trial ◽

Whiplash Injury ◽

Short Term ◽

Cervical Range Of Motion ◽

Kinesio Taping ◽

Short Term Effects

Download Full-text

Is Dry Needling Effective When Combined with Other Therapies for Myofascial Trigger Points Associated with Neck Pain Symptoms? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pain Research and Management ◽

10.1155/2021/8836427 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

César Fernández-De-Las-Peñas ◽

Gustavo Plaza-Manzano ◽

Jorge Sanchez-Infante ◽

Guido F Gómez-Chiguano ◽

Joshua A Cleland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neck Pain ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Dry Needling ◽

Short Term ◽

Pain Thresholds ◽

Pressure Pain ◽

Cervical Range Of Motion ◽

Pressure Pain Thresholds

Objective. To evaluate the effects of combining dry needling with other physical therapy interventions versus the application of the other interventions or dry needling alone applied over trigger points (TrPs) associated to neck pain. Databases and Data Treatment. Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials where at least one group received dry needling combined with other interventions for TrPs associated with neck pain. Outcomes included pain intensity, pain-related disability, pressure pain thresholds, and cervical range of motion. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, methodological quality was assessed with PEDro score, and the quality of evidence was assessed by using the GRADE approach. Between-groups mean differences (MD) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were calculated. Results. Eight trials were included. Dry needling combined with other interventions reduced pain intensity at short-term (SMD −1.46, 95% CI −2.25 to −0.67) and midterm (SMD −0.38, 95% CI −0.74 to −0.03) but not immediately after or at long-term compared with the other interventions alone. A small effect on pain-related disability was observed at short-term (SMD −0.45, 95% CI −0.87 to −0.03) but not at midterm or long-term. The inclusion of dry needling was also effective for improving pressure pain thresholds only at short-term (MD 112.02 kPa, 95% CI 27.99 to 196.06). No significant effects on cervical range of motion or pain catastrophism were observed. Conclusion. Low-to-moderate evidence suggests a positive effect to the combination of dry needling with other interventions for improving pain intensity, pain-related disability, pressure pain thresholds, and cervical range of motion in people with neck pain associated with TrPs at short-term. No midterm or long-term effects were observed.

Download Full-text

Effectiveness of Dry Needling for Myofascial Trigger Points Associated with Neck Pain Symptoms: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9103300 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 3300

Author(s):

Marcos J. Navarro-Santana ◽

Jorge Sanchez-Infante ◽

César Fernández-de-las-Peñas ◽

Joshua A. Cleland ◽

Patricia Martín-Casas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neck Pain ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Trigger Points ◽

Dry Needling ◽

Short Term ◽

Pressure Pain ◽

Cervical Range Of Motion ◽

Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽

Mean Differences ◽

Pain Symptoms

Our aim was to evaluate the effect of dry needling alone as compared to sham needling, no intervention, or other physical interventions applied over trigger points (TrPs) related with neck pain symptoms. Randomized controlled trials including one group receiving dry needling for TrPs associated with neck pain were identified in electronic databases. Outcomes included pain intensity, pain-related disability, pressure pain thresholds, and cervical range of motion. The Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score were used to assessed risk of bias (RoB) and methodological quality of the trials. The quality of evidence was assessed by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Between-groups mean differences (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated (3) Twenty-eight trials were finally included. Dry needling reduced pain immediately after (MD −1.53, 95% CI −2.29 to −0.76) and at short-term (MD −2.31, 95% CI −3.64 to −0.99) when compared with sham/placebo/waiting list/other form of dry needling and, also, at short-term (MD −0.51, 95% CI −0.95 to −0.06) compared with manual therapy. No differences in comparison with other physical therapy interventions were observed. An effect on pain-related disability at the short-term was found when comparing dry needing with sham/placebo/waiting list/other form of dry needling (SMD −0.87, 95% CI −1.60 to −0.14) but not with manual therapy or other interventions. Dry needling was effective for improving pressure pain thresholds immediately after the intervention (MD 55.48 kPa, 95% CI 27.03 to 83.93). No effect on cervical range of motion of dry needling against either comparative group was found. No between-treatment effect was observed in any outcome at mid-term. Low to moderate evidence suggests that dry needling can be effective for improving pain intensity and pain-related disability in individuals with neck pain symptoms associated with TrPs at the short-term. No significant effects on pressure pain sensitivity or cervical range of motion were observed.

Download Full-text