Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes

Background/Objectives: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent form of primary headache. The etiology of TTH is not yet fully understood, although it is associated with the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in cervical and facial muscles. Dry needling (DN) therapy has emerged as...

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Autores: Bravo Vázquez, Ana, Anarte-Lazo, Ernesto, Rodríguez Blanco, Cleofás, Bernal Utrera, Carlos
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:idus________::df8760ac24884282f8c54f9ebd956d1b
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/186935
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155320
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Dry needling
Headache
Trigger points
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spelling Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and OutcomesBravo Vázquez, AnaAnarte-Lazo, ErnestoRodríguez Blanco, CleofásBernal Utrera, CarlosDry needlingHeadacheTrigger pointsBackground/Objectives: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent form of primary headache. The etiology of TTH is not yet fully understood, although it is associated with the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in cervical and facial muscles. Dry needling (DN) therapy has emerged as an effective and safe non-pharmacological option for pain relief, but there are a lack of systematic reviews focused on its specific characteristics in TTH. The aim of this paper is to examine the characteristics and methodologies of DN in managing TTH. Methods: A scoping review was conducted with inclusion criteria considering studies that evaluated DN interventions in adults with TTH, reporting target muscles, diagnostic criteria, and technical features. The search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Web of Science, resulting in the selection of seven studies after a rigorous filtering and evaluation process. Results: The included studies, primarily randomized controlled trials, involved a total of 309 participants. The most frequently treated muscles were the temporalis and trapezius. Identification of MTPs was mainly performed through manual palpation, although diagnostic criteria varied. DN interventions differed in technique. All studies included indicated favorable outcomes with improvements in headache symptoms. No serious adverse effects were reported, suggesting that the technique is safe. However, heterogeneity in protocols and diagnostic criteria limits the comparability of results. Conclusions: The evidence supports the use of DN in key muscles such as the temporalis and trapezius for managing TTH, although the diversity in methodologies and diagnostic criteria highlights the need for standardization. The safety profile of the method is favorable, but further research is necessary to define optimal protocols and improve reproducibility. Implementing objective diagnostic criteria and uniform protocols will facilitate advances in clinical practice and future research, ultimately optimizing outcomes for patients with TTHMDPIFisioterapiaCTS954: Innovaciones en Salud y Calidad de Vida2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/11441/186935https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155320reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevillainstname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)InglésJournal Of Clinical Medicine, 14 (15), 5320. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/15/5320info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:idus________::df8760ac24884282f8c54f9ebd956d1b2026-06-17T12:51:07Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
title Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
spellingShingle Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
Bravo Vázquez, Ana
Dry needling
Headache
Trigger points
title_short Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
title_full Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
title_fullStr Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
title_sort Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Bravo Vázquez, Ana
Anarte-Lazo, Ernesto
Rodríguez Blanco, Cleofás
Bernal Utrera, Carlos
author Bravo Vázquez, Ana
author_facet Bravo Vázquez, Ana
Anarte-Lazo, Ernesto
Rodríguez Blanco, Cleofás
Bernal Utrera, Carlos
author_role author
author2 Anarte-Lazo, Ernesto
Rodríguez Blanco, Cleofás
Bernal Utrera, Carlos
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Fisioterapia
CTS954: Innovaciones en Salud y Calidad de Vida
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Dry needling
Headache
Trigger points
topic Dry needling
Headache
Trigger points
description Background/Objectives: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent form of primary headache. The etiology of TTH is not yet fully understood, although it is associated with the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in cervical and facial muscles. Dry needling (DN) therapy has emerged as an effective and safe non-pharmacological option for pain relief, but there are a lack of systematic reviews focused on its specific characteristics in TTH. The aim of this paper is to examine the characteristics and methodologies of DN in managing TTH. Methods: A scoping review was conducted with inclusion criteria considering studies that evaluated DN interventions in adults with TTH, reporting target muscles, diagnostic criteria, and technical features. The search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Web of Science, resulting in the selection of seven studies after a rigorous filtering and evaluation process. Results: The included studies, primarily randomized controlled trials, involved a total of 309 participants. The most frequently treated muscles were the temporalis and trapezius. Identification of MTPs was mainly performed through manual palpation, although diagnostic criteria varied. DN interventions differed in technique. All studies included indicated favorable outcomes with improvements in headache symptoms. No serious adverse effects were reported, suggesting that the technique is safe. However, heterogeneity in protocols and diagnostic criteria limits the comparability of results. Conclusions: The evidence supports the use of DN in key muscles such as the temporalis and trapezius for managing TTH, although the diversity in methodologies and diagnostic criteria highlights the need for standardization. The safety profile of the method is favorable, but further research is necessary to define optimal protocols and improve reproducibility. Implementing objective diagnostic criteria and uniform protocols will facilitate advances in clinical practice and future research, ultimately optimizing outcomes for patients with TTH
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/11441/186935
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155320
url https://hdl.handle.net/11441/186935
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155320
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Journal Of Clinical Medicine, 14 (15), 5320.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/15/5320
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
instname:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
instname_str Universidad de Sevilla (US)
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collection idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
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