The effect of dry needling on pain, pressure pain threshold and disability in patients with a myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle

Various techniques targeting direct treatment of myofascial trigger points exist including more invasive approaches such as dry needling or less invasive application of strictly compression to the area or trigger point compression therapy (TCT). Thirty-three patients with a myofascial trigger point of the upper trapezius muscle were randomized to be treated with either DN or TCT. The purpose was to investigate the efficacy of DN for pain relief, pressure pain threshold and improving disability as compared with TCT. Three weekly sessions were performed for each group, and patients were assessed at 1 week after the first session. Both DN and TCT exhibited significant improvement in pain, pressure pain threshold and disability. A between-group difference was identified indicating a significantly greater reduction in pain in the DN group compared to the TCT group.