Effects of Dry Needling on Biomechanical Properties of the Myofascial Trigger Points Measured by Myotonometry: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of dry needling (DN) on the biomechanical properties of a latent medial myofascial trigger point (MTrP) of the soleus muscle compared with an adjacent point within the taut band (TB) measured by myotonometry.Methods: Fifty asympto...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Jiménez Sánchez, Carolina, Gómez Soriano, Julio, Bravo Esteban-Herreros, Elisabeth, Mayoral del Moral, Orlando, Herrero Gallego, Pablo, Serrano Muñoz, Diego, Ortiz Lucas, María
Format: article
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
Repository:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:ruidera_____::9452342a9a1345a8df6271f6dad26f4b
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2021.06.002
https://hdl.handle.net/10578/48654
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Dry Needling
Muscle Tonus
Trigger Points
Description
Summary:Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of dry needling (DN) on the biomechanical properties of a latent medial myofascial trigger point (MTrP) of the soleus muscle compared with an adjacent point within the taut band (TB) measured by myotonometry.Methods: Fifty asymptomatic volunteers were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 26) or control group (n =24). One session of DN was performed in every group as follows: 10 needle insertions into the MTrP area (intervention group) or TB area (control group). Myotonometric measurements (frequency, decrement, and stiffness) were performed at baseline (pre-intervention) and after the intervention (post-intervention) in both locations (MTrPand TB areas).Results: The results showed that stiffness outcome significantly decreased with a large effect size after DN in the MTrP when measured in the MTrP location (P=.002; d=0.928) but not when measured in the TB location. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in any location when the TB was needled (P > .05).Conclusions: The findings suggest that only DN into the MTrP area was effective in decreasing stiffness outcome, therefore a specific puncture was needed to modify myofascial muscle stiffness. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2021;44;467-474)