Myofascial trigger point therapy: laser therapy and dry needling.

Abstract

The aim of the present review is to discuss two forms of treatment for myofascial pain: laser therapy and dry needling. Although studies have reported the deactivation of myofascial trigger points with these two methods, clinical trials demonstrating their efficacy are scarce. The literature reports greater efficacy with the use of laser over dry needling. It has been suggested that improvements in microcirculation through the administration of laser therapy may favor the supply of oxygen to the cells under conditions of hypoxia and help remove the waste products of cell metabolism, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of pain, muscle spasm and further pain. While laser therapy is the method of choice for patients with a fear of needles and healthcare professionals inexperienced with the dry needling technique, further controlled studies are still needed to prove the greater efficacy of this method.

• Authors: Luciana Uemoto, Rosany Nascimento de Azevedo, Thays Almeida Alfaya, Renata Nunes Jardim Reis, Cresus Vinicius Depes de Gouvêa, Marco Antonio Cavalcanti Garcia
• Journal: Current pain and headache reports (Curr Pain Headache Rep) Vol. 17 Issue 9 Pg. 357 (Sep 2013) ISSN: 1534-3081 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23904202 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Acupuncture Therapy (methods)
• Humans
• Laser Therapy (methods)
• Myofascial Pain Syndromes (therapy)
• Needles
• Trigger Points