Dry needling reduces pain in Sanglah General Hospital Denpasar workers with myofascial pain syndrome in the upper trapezius muscle

Abstract

Background: Myalgia is a common complaint in the general population, but it is underappreciated and often undertreated. Myofascial pain syndrome is a form of myalgia that is characterized by local regions of muscle hardness. The main component of this syndrome is the trigger point that is composed of taut bands. Various invasive and non-invasive procedures are available to inactivate myofascial trigger points. Dry needling involves inserting a filiform needle directly into a trigger point without injection of material. Dry needling is a treatment modality that is minimally invasive, cheap, easy to learn, and carries a low risk for reducing pain. ---

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that dry needling could reduce pain in subjects with myofascial pain syndrome in the upper trapezius muscle on Sanglah hospital’s workers. ---

Method: Twenty-six subjects with myofascial pain syndrome in upper trapezius muscle were randomly divided into two groups: 13 subjects in the control group received acetaminophen, and 13 subjects in the dry needling group received dry needling and acetaminophen. The numeric rating scale was assessed before, 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days after the treatment. Side effects of dry needling were evaluated every day for 7 days follow up. The total amount of acetaminophen was assessed at last day follow up. ---

Results: At baseline, the numeric rating scale was same in control versus dry needling group. Reduction in all numeric rating scale at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 7 days after dry needling was significant (p<0,05). ---

Conclusion: dry needling could reduce pain and analgetic oral consumption in subjects with myofascial pain syndrome in the upper trapezius muscle. There were no side effects of dry needling reported on this study.