Effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for multiple body regions: a systematic review

Abstract

The majority of high-quality studies included in this review show measured benefit from TDN for MTrPs in multiple body areas, suggesting broad applicability of TDN treatment for multiple muscle groups. Further high-quality research is warranted to standardise TDN methods to determine clinical applicability.

The Effectiveness of Trigger Point Dry Needling for Musculoskeletal Conditions by Physical Therapists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…This improves the generalizability of our findings to physical therapists, and provides evidence that dry needling may be an effective treatment technique when used by physical therapists trained in its use in an appropriate patient for the management of musculoskeletal pain. The findings of this review are in agreement with those of previous reviews, 4,5,11,20,23,30 in that dry needling may be superior to no treatment or sham needling in reducing pain in the immediate to 12-week follow-up period. Results from this review differ from those of previous reviews 20,23,40 showing an overall treatment effect of dry needling compared to standard care/other treatment; the present review found that dry needling performed by physical therapists provided a small treatment effect compared to other interventions performed by physical therapists for reducing pain and increasing PPT.…”

“…Results from this review differ from those of previous reviews 20,23,40 showing an overall treatment effect of dry needling compared to standard care/other treatment; the present review found that dry needling performed by physical therapists provided a small treatment effect compared to other interventions performed by physical therapists for reducing pain and increasing PPT. It is possible that differences between dry needling and other physical therapy interventions were found in the current review because previous reviews 4,5,20,23,31 commonly have compared dry needling to other types of needling (eg, wet needling, which is not performed by physical therapists). In the current review, dry needling was compared to (1) exercise/soft tissue mobilization/joint mobilization for postsurgical shoulder pain, 2 (2) proprioception/strengthening for ankle pain, 35 (3) ischemic compression techniques in 4 studies on neck pain, 6,24,36,43 (4) orthopaedic manual therapy consisting of joint mobilization of the cervical and thoracic spine for neck pain, 6 (5) active stretching for neck pain, 12 and (6) percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for chronic lower back pain.…”

“…There is currently weak evidence (only 2 4,5 of the 8 systematic reviews) for dry needling's effect on functional outcomes or quality of life. The evidence to support dry needling in the long term for decreasing pain or improving functional outcomes is currently lacking, as no previous reviews included evidence of long-term effects.…”

“…[ research report ] Six 4,5,11,20,23,30 of the 8 31,40 systematic reviews since 2013 concluded that dry needling is more effective in the short term for decreasing pain when compared to sham or placebo treatment. There is currently weak evidence (only 2 4,5 of the 8 systematic reviews) for dry needling's effect on functional outcomes or quality of life.…”

Trigger point dry needling: the data do not support broad applicability or robust effect

“…We suggest that the authors amend their strongly worded conclusions to more closely match what the actual trial data suggest that despite strong anecdotal support 28 and positive reviews (that are flawed), 1,29,30 the positive influence of dry needling is overstated in this systematic review. 31 …”