Dry Needling and Photobiomodulation Decreases Myofascial Pain in Trapezius of Women: Randomized Blind Clinical Trial

2020 
Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to assess whether dry needling (DN) added to photobiomodulation (PBM) has effects on the treatment of active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius. Methods This study was a randomized clinical trial, with 43 participants divided into 3 groups: DN and PBM (DNP), DN, and DN outside of the trigger point (DNout). Each group received 1 session of DN followed by PBM therapy with the machine turned on or off. Pain, disability, pain pressure threshold, and muscle activity were assessed before the intervention and afterward at intervals of 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 week, and 1 month. Results Pain decreased after intervention in the DNP and DNout groups, with mean differences, respectively, of 1.33 cm (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.019-2.647) and 2.78 cm (95% CI, 1.170-2.973). Scores for the disability questionnaire decreased in all groups after intervention (F = 36.53, P Conclusion DN added to PBM presented similar results compared to DNout and DN. In this sample, the effects of the application of DN outside of the trigger point had better effects on pain and disability scores than DN applied directly on the trigger point.
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