Immediate and short-term effects of the combination of dry needling and percutaneous TENS on post-needling soreness in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain

Abstract

BackgroundDry needling (DN) and percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) are widely used techniques in the treatment of myofascial pain.ObjectiveTo investigate the immediate and short-term effects of the combination of DN and PENS compared to DN alone on the upper trapezius muscle.MethodThis is a 72-hour follow-up single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Sixty-two volunteer patients with chronic myofascial neck pain with active Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle were recruited. Randomization was performed, and 31 patients received DN treatment (DN group) and 31 received DN and PENS (DN+PENS group). The primary outcomes were neck disability index (NDI) and visual analog scale for pain for both post-needling soreness (PNS) and neck pain intensity (NPI). Pressure pain threshold (PPT) and cervical range of motion (CROM) were the secondary outcomes. ResultsWe detected between-group differences in NPI and PNS in favor of the DN+PENS group immediately after treatment. No between-group differences in NDI were observed.ConclusionPENS application after dry needling treatment is more effective than dry needling alone for decreasing soreness in the short term and improving neck pain intensity immediately in patients with myofascial chronic neck pain.

Comparison of cervical muscle thickness between asymptomatic women with and without forward head posture

“…In the current study, no significant difference was observed regarding LCo thickness between the two groups. The smaller thickness of the LCo muscle in women with FHP was consistent with the findings reported by Ishida et al, 6 who measured the CVA and DCF thickness in healthy men. The results indicated that men with smaller CVAs had smaller DCF muscle thickness.…”

“… 3 This poor posture has been linked to many musculoskeletal disorders such as headache, shoulder pain, neck pain, craniofacial pain, and temporomandibular disorders. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between FHP and disability in patients with neck disorders. 8 Increase in the time spent working on a computer in sitting positions has increased the prevalence of this poor posture.…”

Prevalence and factors associated with neck pain: a population-based study

“…It can have an impact on the individual's physical, social, and psychological well-being, contributing to increasing costs to society and businesses. In addition, with the increasing aging population of medium- and low-income countries, the prevalence of neck pain will grow significantly in the coming decades, 8 requiring knowledge of the risk factors and forms of preventive and/or curative interventions (for example, global postural re-education, segmental stretching, 9 dry needling, and percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, 10 among others). It is also important to highlight that, in Brazil, population-based studies regarding pain have been frequently related to lumbar or general pain, 11 while neck pain needs further research.…”

Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling Immediately After Application on Myofascial Trigger Point in Upper Trapezius Muscle

“…14,[17][18][19][20][21][22] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of DN compared with IC on pain intensity and PPT immediately after each treatment session compared with the measurements obtained 48 hours after each treatment session in individuals with MTP in the UT muscle.…”