Comparison of the Efficacy of Dry Needling and High-Power Pain Threshold Ultrasound Therapy with Clinical Status and Sonoelastography in Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy of high-power pain threshold (HPPT) ultrasound therapy applied to the trigger points and dry needling (DN) in myofascial pain syndrome.

DESIGN:

Sixty-one patients were randomly assigned to an HPPT (n = 30) and dry needling (n = 31) groups. The primary outcome measures were the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPDS), both at 1 week and 4 weeks after treatment. The secondary outcome measures were the number of painful trigger points, range of the tragus-acromioclavicular joint, the Short Form-36, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and sonoelastographic tests after a 1-week treatment.

RESULTS:

More improvement was seen in anxiety in the HPPT group (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found between the groups with regard to other parameters (P > 0.05). A decrease in tissue stiffness was only seen in the HPPT group (P < 0.05). Significant posttreatment improvements were seen on all clinical scales in both groups (P < 0.05). After a treatment period of 4 weeks, a significant improvement was also observed on the visual analog scale and NPDS (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study favors the efficacy of both treatment methods in myofascial pain syndrome. Although a significant decrease was shown in tissue stiffness with HPPT, neither of these treatments had an apparent superiority.

• Authors: Rifat Aridici, Alparslan Yetisgin, Ahmet Boyaci, Ahmet Tutoglu, Erol Bozdogan, Dilek Sen Dokumaci, Nihat Kilicaslan, Nurefsan Boyaci
• Journal: American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation (Am J Phys Med Rehabil) Vol. 95 Issue 10 Pg. e149-58 (10 2016) ISSN: 1537-7385 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27552352 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Acupuncture Therapy (methods)
• Adult
• Elasticity Imaging Techniques (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myofascial Pain Syndromes (diagnostic imaging, therapy)
• Neck Pain (diagnostic imaging, therapy)
• Pain Measurement
• Pain Threshold
• Treatment Outcome
• Trigger Points
• Ultrasonic Therapy (methods)