The ‘Dry-Needle Technique’: Intramuscular Stimulation in Tension-Type Headache

Abstract

The 'dry-needle technique', an intramuscular stimulation technique carried out by using a fine solid, 1-inch long, 30-gauge needle, was investigated in the treatment of tension-type headache (TTH) in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Fifteen patients with TTH received intramuscular needle insertions into six designated trigger points, while 15 controls received subcutaneous insertions. Headache indices, muscle tenderness and neck ROMs were evaluated before and after treatment. Mean headache indices improved significantly after treatment, both in the treatment group and in the placebo group, but the difference between the two groups was insignificant. In the treatment group the tenderness score and the neck ROM limitation score were significantly improved after treatment, while there was no significant improvement in the placebo group. We conclude that more and larger controlled, comparative trials are needed to show whether the dry-needle technique is an effective non-pharmacological alternative for the treatment of TTH.

Chronic Tension-Type Headache Treated with Acupuncture, Physical Training and Relaxation Training. Between-Group Differences

“…(21) and Karakurum et al. (29), headache intensity decreased, but not significantly compared with sham stimulation (21, 22, 29). One might conclude that the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of TTH is weak.…”

“…There have been many controlled studies of acupuncture treatment in TTH (21, 22, 27–30). It has been found to be both effective (31) and ineffective (21) in reducing headache scores compared with controls.…”

The use of myofascial techniques (dry needle) for the treatment of maintained muscule contraction in peripheral facial palsy sequelae

“…The dry needle technique consists on introducing monopolar needles coated with tefl on in the myofascial trigger point (MTP), 1 cm deep [7,8]. These needles have the advantage of being thicker than the acupuncture ones, enhancing their capacity, and the coating facilitates the glide through the skin diminishing pain.…”

Botulinum Toxin Type‐A (BOTOX®) in the Treatment of Occipital Neuralgia: A Pilot Study

“…We have attempted to counter such biases with secondary measures of global impressions, which closely paralleled headache diary predictors. Injection of normal saline has been associated with improvement in headache 19 . Thus, a placebo response is perhaps inevitable.…”