Lynn H Gerber1, Jay Shah2, William Rosenberger3, Kathryn Armstrong4, Diego Turo5, Paul Otto5, Juliana Heimur2, Nikki Thaker2, Siddhartha Sikdar5. 1. Center for the Study of Chronic Illness and Disability, George Mason University, CCID, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030. 2. Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. 3. Department of Statistics, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. 4. Center for the Study of Chronic Illness and Disability, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. 5. Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dry needling of an active myofascial trigger point (MTrP) reduces pain and alters the status of the trigger point to either a non-spontaneously tender nodule or its resolution. DESIGN: A prospective, nonrandomized, controlled, interventional clinical study. SETTING: University campus. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 56 subjects with neck or shoulder girdle pain of more than 3 months duration and active MTrPs were recruited from a campus-wide volunteer sample. Of these, 52 completed the study (23 male and 33 female). Their mean age was 35.8 years. INTERVENTIONS: Three weekly dry needling treatments of a single active MTrP. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Baseline and posttreatment evaluations of pain using a verbal analogue scale, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the status of the MTrP as determined by digital palpation. Trigger points were rated as active (spontaneously painful), latent (requiring palpation to reproduce the characteristic pain), or resolved (no palpable nodule). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Profile of Mood States, Oswestry Disability Index, and Short Form 36 scores, and cervical range of motion. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: A total of 41 subjects had a change in trigger point status from active to latent or resolved, and 11 subjects had no change (P < .001). Reduction in all pain scores was significant (P < .001). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Significant improvement in posttreatment cervical rotational asymmetry in subjects as follows: unilateral/bilateral MTrPs (P = .001 and P = 21, respectively); in pain pressure threshold in subjects with unilateral/bilateral MTrPs, (P = .006 and P = .012, respectively); improvement in the SF-36 mental health and physical functioning subscale scores (P = .019 and P = .03), respectively; and a decrease in the Oswestry Disability Index score (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Dry needling reduces pain and changes MTrP status. Change in trigger point status is associated with a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain. Reduction of pain is associated with improved mood, function, and level of disability.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dry needling of an active myofascial trigger point (MTrP) reduces pain and alters the status of the trigger point to either a non-spontaneously tender nodule or its resolution. DESIGN: A prospective, nonrandomized, controlled, interventional clinical study. SETTING: University campus. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 56 subjects with neck or shoulder girdle pain of more than 3 months duration and active MTrPs were recruited from a campus-wide volunteer sample. Of these, 52 completed the study (23 male and 33 female). Their mean age was 35.8 years. INTERVENTIONS: Three weekly dry needling treatments of a single active MTrP. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Baseline and posttreatment evaluations of pain using a verbal analogue scale, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the status of the MTrP as determined by digital palpation. Trigger points were rated as active (spontaneously painful), latent (requiring palpation to reproduce the characteristic pain), or resolved (no palpable nodule). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Profile of Mood States, Oswestry Disability Index, and Short Form 36 scores, and cervical range of motion. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: A total of 41 subjects had a change in trigger point status from active to latent or resolved, and 11 subjects had no change (P < .001). Reduction in all pain scores was significant (P < .001). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Significant improvement in posttreatment cervical rotational asymmetry in subjects as follows: unilateral/bilateral MTrPs (P = .001 and P = 21, respectively); in pain pressure threshold in subjects with unilateral/bilateral MTrPs, (P = .006 and P = .012, respectively); improvement in the SF-36 mental health and physical functioning subscale scores (P = .019 and P = .03), respectively; and a decrease in the Oswestry Disability Index score (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Dry needling reduces pain and changes MTrP status. Change in trigger point status is associated with a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain. Reduction of pain is associated with improved mood, function, and level of disability.
Authors: Diego Turo; Paul Otto; Murad Hossain; Tadesse Gebreab; Katherine Armstrong; William F Rosenberger; Hui Shao; Jay P Shah; Lynn H Gerber; Siddhartha Sikdar Journal: J Ultrasound Med Date: 2015-10-21 Impact factor: 2.153
Authors: Lynn H Gerber; Siddhartha Sikdar; Jacqueline V Aredo; Katee Armstrong; William F Rosenberger; Hui Shao; Jay P Shah Journal: PM R Date: 2016-06-11 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Amnon A Berger; Yao Liu; Luke Mosel; Kristin A Champagne; Miriam T Ruoff; Elyse M Cornett; Alan David Kaye; Farnad Imani; Asadollah Shakeri; Giustino Varrassi; Omar Viswanath; Ivan Urits Journal: Anesth Pain Med Date: 2021-04-03