Immediate Effects of Dry Needling on the Autonomic Nervous System and Mechanical Hyperalgesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Dry needling (DN) is often used for the treatment of muscle pain among physiotherapists. However, little is known about the mechanisms of action by which its effects are generated. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to determine if the use of DN in healthy subjects activates the sympathetic nervous system, thus resulting in a decrease in pain caused by stress. Methods: Sixty-five healthy volunteer subjects were recruited from the University of Alcala, Madrid, Spain, with an age of 27.78 (SD = 8.41) years. The participants were randomly assigned to participate in a group with deep DN in the adductor pollicis muscle or a placebo needling group. The autonomic nervous system was evaluated, in addition to local and remote mechanical hyperalgesia. Results: In a comparison of the moment at which the needling intervention was carried out with the baseline, the heart rate of the dry needling group significantly increased by 20.60% (SE = 2.88), whereas that of the placebo group increased by 5.33% (SE = 2.32) (p = 0.001, d = 1.02). The pressure pain threshold showed significant differences between both groups, being significantly higher in the needling group (adductor muscle p = 0.001; d = 0.85; anterior tibialis muscle p = 0.022, d = 0.58). Conclusions: This work appears to indicate that dry needling produces an immediate activation in the sympathetic nervous system, improving local and distant mechanical hyperalgesia.

Effect of dry needling on pain and central sensitization in women with chronic pelvic pain: A randomized parallel-group controlled clinical trial

“…Although both treatments involve puncturing the skin using needles, DN targets soft tissue trigger points while acupuncture usually targets acupoints or Ashi based on traditional Chinese medicine [ 107 ]. Lázaro-Navas et al, compared the effects of DN and placebo needling on cortisol concentrations in healthy volunteers [ 108 ]. The level of cortisol increased in the DNG, compared to the PNG, however, no significant difference in cortisol changes over time and between groups were reported.…”

Electroacupuncture Zusanli (ST36) Relieves Somatic Pain in Colitis Rats by Inhibiting Dorsal Root Ganglion Sympathetic-Sensory Coupling and Neurogenic Inflammation

“…Referred somatic pain was accompanied by secondary hyperalgesia, reflex muscle spasms, deep tenderness, and autonomic hyperactivity [22,23]. Studies have found that the sympathetic nervous system was closely related to hyperalgesia due to visceral lesions [24][25][26]. Sympathetic nerve sprouts in the DRG by coupling around neurons to form sympathetic-sensory coupling were found in animal 7 Neural Plasticity models of pathological conditions.…”

Effect of Mirror Therapy on Post-Needling Pain Following Deep Dry Needling of Myofascial Trigger Point in Lateral Elbow Pain: Prospective Controlled Pilot Trial

“…Conservative approaches such as Deep Dry Needling (DDN) have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing hyperalgesia and alleviating sensory–motor disturbances [ 17 , 18 ]. This technique involves rhythmic transcutaneous needling of the affected muscles or MTrPs without the use of injectable substances [ 19 ].…”