Dry Needling
Dry needling is a therapeutic technique used by healthcare professionals, to aid in the treating of a range of musculoskeletal conditions. It involves the insertion of thin, needles into trigger points or taut bands of muscle tissue, without injecting any medication (hence the term "dry").
Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of dry needling for various musculoskeletal conditions. For example:
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy in 2017 found that dry needling was effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with chronic low back pain.
Another systematic review in 2021 found positive effects of dry needling for pain intensity and pain-related disability in nontraumatic shoulder pain of musculoskeletal origin, mostly at short term.
Overall, dry needling is a valuable adjunctive therapy for managing musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, with growing evidence supporting its effectiveness in various clinical contexts.
References:
Lin Liu, et al. Evidence for Dry Needling in the Management of Myofascial Trigger Points Associated With Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 1, 2018, pages 144-152.
Marcos J Navarro-Santana, et al. Effects of Trigger Point Dry Needling for Nontraumatic Shoulder Pain of Musculoskeletal Origin: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Physical Therapy, Volume 101, Issue 2, February 2021