Document Type : Review Articles

Authors

• Abdolrahim Karimi ¹
• Ashraf Mahmoudzadeh ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

² MSc Student, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Myofascial pain is one of the most commonly experienced pains in muscles or their fascia and is often associated with the myofascial trigger point (MTP). Various methods have been employed to relieve chronic MTP pain, but none have been successful in the treatment alone. Dry needling is method that has been used to treat MTP in recent years. This minimally invasive procedure is performed through the insertion of acupuncture needles into the skeletal muscles. The present study was a review of researches which have investigated the dry needling method in the treatment of MTP and its impact on improving myofascial pain. Dry needling is a relatively new treatment method. Therefore, further researches are necessary to clarify its mechanism of action and method of use in terms of number of therapy sessions, the length of time the needles remain in the skin, and the number of needles in the muscles. 

Keywords

• Myofascial pain
• Myofascial trigger point (MTP)
• Dry needling