Riassunto dello studio

Seven studies containing 242 post-stroke patients were included in this meta-analysis comparing dry needling to control for the improvement of muscle spasticity and pain. Pooled outcomes of interest included muscle spasticity, shoulder pain, motor function, and pain sensitivity (measured by pressure pain threshold). Outcomes were assessed up to 4 weeks post-treatment. Results revealed that pooled muscle spasticity was statistically significantly in favour of the dry needling group (p=0.0002); however, in the subgroup analysis by anatomical location, this was only significant in the lower extremity subgroup (p<0.00001) and not the upper extremity sub group (p=0.18). Similarly, pooled shoulder pain (p=0.01) and pooled pressure pain sensitivity (p<0.001) were statistically significantly in favour of the dry needling group. No statistical significant differences were observed between the two groups for pooled motor function (p=0.28).