Dry needling for hypertonia and spasticity (DNHS) is a technique used for decreasing hypertonia and spasticity and for the improvement of function in patients with damage to the central nervous system. There is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of this technique on the basis of objective assessments. The aim of the present case report was to quantify the effects of dry needling (DNHS technique) on the contractile properties of spastic muscles in an individual with stroke. The DNHS technique was applied to a 50-year-old male 2.5 years after stroke who had a complaint of spasticity. The treated muscles were biceps brachii, triceps brachii, rectus femoris, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius, and lateral gastrocnemius. Tensiomyography was used to assess maximal displacement (Dm) of treated muscles. We performed a preintervention and postintervention measurement and a follow-up measurement 3 weeks after intervention. After the application of the DNHS technique, a decrease in the level of local muscle stiffness was observed for all muscles after intervention and at the 3-week follow-up, quantified by an increase in Dm. The usefulness of tensiomyography for detecting changes in patients with spasticity correlated with clinical measures in this field requires further research to establish the reliability of the different parameters provided by the equipment.

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the short-term effects of dry needling on spasticity, gait, and muscle architecture of patients with chronic stroke. Methods A case series study was designed; and six chronic stroke patients with ankle spasticity and gait impairment received a single session of dry needling for gastrocnemius medialis, lateralis, and soleus muscles. The main outcome measures were the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG). In addition, ultrasonography measurements (e.g. thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length) were performed for gastrocnemius medialis at baseline (T0), immediately after intervention (T1) and 30 min after intervention (T2), while the MMAS and TUG Test were only measured at T0 and T2. Results Based on the TUG test, there was a significant improvement in gait function (p = 0.023). Furthermore, the MMAS results (p = 0.014) showed a decrease in resistance to passive movements from plantar flexor muscles. Furthermore, a significant decrease in pennation angle (p = 0.014) and muscle thickness (p = 0.001), and also a significant increase in fascicle length of gastrocnemius medialis (p = 0.001) were observed after dry needling. Discussion & conclusions Based on the outcomes of this study, dry needling application seems to have short term effects in terms of reducing spasticity, improving gait, and muscle architecture of gastrocnemius medialis in patients with chronic stroke. The changes of muscle architecture may be interpreted as the positive effects of dry needling on the physical properties of hypertonic muscles.

Background: Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Europe, represents one of the most common causes of disability in adult patients, and involves considerable short- and long-term social and healthcare costs. The effectiveness of deep dry needling (DDN) on affected arm functionality was assessed throughout 8 weeks of treatment in patients with stroke in the subacute phase. Methods: Eighty patients were included in this two-group non-randomised study after a propensity score analysis was carried out. Both groups received standard physiotherapy treatment on the affected arm. The needling group also received six sessions of DDN during the 8-week period. Patients were evaluated before and after each session using the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity (FM UE) scale, the modified modified Ashworth scale (MMAS), the resistance to passive movement scale (REPAS) and a 10-point numeric pain rating scale (NPRS 10). The Brunnstrom recovery stage was recorded at the beginning and at the end of the study, and the EuroQoL quality of life survey was completed at the beginning of the study, after the first month of treatment and at the end of the study. Results: Patients treated with DDN showed a reduction in spasticity measured using the REPAS (p < 0.001) and the MMAS (p < 0.05). There was also an improvement in the Brunnstrom recovery stages (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The addition of a specific DDN treatment to a standard physiotherapy treatment appeared to lead to a higher reduction in spasticity in the affected arm; however, it did not provide additional changes in functionality, pain and quality of life. Further studies with a randomised controlled trial design are required to confirm our findings.

Background: Persons with stroke commonly have impairments associated with a reduction in functionality. Motor impairments are the most prevalent, causing an impact on activities of daily life. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a session of dry needling (DN) applied to the upper extremity muscles on the sensorimotor function, hypertonia, and quality of life of persons with chronic stroke. Methods: A randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial was performed. Participants were randomly assigned into an intervention group that received a single session DN in the biceps brachii, brachialis, flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus, extensor digitorum, adductor pollicis and triceps brachii muscles, or into a control group that received the same treatment but with a sham DN intervention. Treatment outcomes included the Fugl–Meyer Assessment Scale for the upper extremity, the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale, and the EuroQol-5D questionnaire. Measurements were carried out before, immediately after, and 14 days after intervention. Results: Twenty-three persons participated in the study. Significant differences between groups were observed after the intervention in the total wrist–hand motor score (p = 0.023) and sensorimotor score (p = 0.022), for hypertonia in the elbow extensors both after treatment (p = 0.002) and at follow-up (p = 0.018), and in quality of life at follow-up (p = 0.030). Conclusions: A single session of DN improved total wrist–hand motor function and total sensorimotor function in persons with chronic stroke immediately after treatment, as well as quality of life 2 weeks after treatment. Trial registration number: NCT03546517 (ClinicalTrials.gov)