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Analysis and comparison of pain pressure threshold and active cervical range of motion after superficial and deep dry needling techniques of the upper trapezius muscle

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Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the changes in pain pressure threshold (PPT) and active cervical range of motion (ACROM) after the application of superficial dry needling (DN) or deep DN in myofascial trigger point (MTrP) 1 of the upper trapezius versus a simulated DN technique in the gastrocnemius muscle (control group). Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial with 7-day follow-up. Participants: Asymptomatic volunteers (n = 180; 76 men, 104 women) with a latent MTrP 1 in the upper trapezius were randomly divided into three groups: G1, receiving superficial DN in the upper trapezius; G2, receiving deep DN in the upper trapezius; and G3, control group, receiving simulated DN technique in the gastrocnemius muscle. Main outcome measures: While sitting in a chair, each subject underwent measurements of PPT and ACROM (ipsilateral and contralateral side flexion and rotation, flexion and extension) preintervention, (immediately) postintervention, and at 24 h, 72 h and 7 days. Results: Superficial and deep DN produced an increase in PPT at 7 days with respect to preintervention levels. Furthermore, superficial and deep DN produced a decrease in cervical flexion at 24 h and an increase in ipsilateral rotation until 72 h, increasing to 7 days in the case of deep DN. On the contrary, superficial DN produced an increase in ipsilateral and contralateral side flexion after intervention, unlike deep DN that produced a decrease at 24 h. Furthermore, superficial DN produced an increase in contralateral rotation at 24 h and deep DN decreased extension at 72 h. Conclusion: A single intervention of superficial or deep DN did not produce statistically significant changes in PPT or goniometry measurements. Trial registration number: NCT03719352 (ClinicalTrials.gov) Keywords myofascial trigger point, needles, pain pressure threshold, range of motion, rehabilitation

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Background: Myofascial trigger point dry needling is frequently associated with postneedling soreness, which can generate patient dissatisfaction and reduced treatment adherence. Psychological factors may influence the perception of postneedling soreness and the effectiveness of postneedling soreness treatments. Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to determine whether catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, pain anxiety, and fear of pain are significant predictors of postneedling soreness over time; and to analyze whether the relationships between psychological variables and postneedling soreness vary as a function of the postneedling soreness intervention, which included ischemic compression, placebo or control (without treatment). Design: Repeated-measures observational study nested within a randomized controlled trial. Setting: University community. Participants: Healthy volunteers (N = 90; 40 men and 50 women) 18 to 39 years of age (mean ± standard deviation 22 ± 3 years). Methods: Catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, pain anxiety, and fear of pain were evaluated as possible predictors of postneedling pain before dry needling in a latent myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle. Participants were then divided into a treatment group that received ischemic compression as a postneedling intervention, a placebo group that received sham ischemic compression, and a control group that did not receive any treatment. Main outcome measurements: Pain during needling and postneedling soreness were quantified using a visual analogue scale during needling, after treatment, and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. Results: A multilevel analysis revealed that individuals who exhibited more catastrophic thinking showed less postneedling soreness intensity immediately after needling in all participants (β = -0.049). Pain-related anxiety was linked to greater immediate postneedling soreness in the compression condition (β = 0.057). Finally, participants who exhibited more catastrophic thinking showed a slower rate of decline in postneedling soreness levels over time in the compression condition (β = 0.038). Conclusions: Catastrophizing was associated with lower levels of postneedling soreness immediately after needling in all subjects. Although ischemic compression seems to be a useful procedure to reduce postneedling soreness, its efficacy could be slightly reduced in patients presenting higher scores of pain-related anxiety. Psychological procedures may help to correct the distorted pain expectancies associated with needling interventions and might also improve the effectiveness of ischemic compression. Level of evidence: II.
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To investigate the effect of ischemic compression (IC) versus placebo and control on (1) reducing postneedling soreness of one latent myofascial trigger point (MTrP) and on (2) improving cervical range of motion (CROM) in asymptomatic subjects. A 72-hour follow-up, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. University community. Asymptomatic volunteers (N=90:40 men, 50 women) aged 18 to 39 years (mean±SD, 22±3y). All subjects received a dry needling application over the upper trapezius muscle. Then, participants were randomly divided into three groups: a treatment group, who received IC over the needled trapezius muscle, a placebo group who received sham IC and a control group who did not receive any treatment after needling. Visual analog scale (VAS; during needling, at post-treatment, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours) and CROM (at pre-needling, postneedling, 24 and 72 hours). Subjects in the IC group showed significantly lower postneedling soreness than the placebo and the control groups subjects immediately after treatment (Mean±SD; IC: 20.1±4.8; Placebo: 36.7±4.8; Control: 34.8±3.6) and at 48 hours (Mean±SD; IC: 0.6±1; Placebo: 4.8±1; control: 3.8±0.7). In addition, subjects in the dry needling+IC group showed significantly lower postneedling soreness duration (P=.026). All subjects significantly improved the cervical range of motion in contralateral lateroflexion and both homolateral and contralateral rotations, but only the improvements found in the IC group reached the minimal detectable change. IC can potentially be added immediately after dry needling of MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle because it has the effect of reducing postneedling soreness intensity and duration. The combination of dry needling and IC seems to improve CROM in homolateral and contralateral cervical rotation movements. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Article
Objective To investigate (1) the effect of spray and stretch (SS) versus control on reducing post-needling soreness of one latent myofascial trigger point (MTrP) and (2) if higher levels of psychological distress are associated with increased post-needling pain intensity. Design A 72-hour follow-up, single-blind randomized controlled trial. Setting University community. Participants Healthy volunteers (N=70:40 men,30 women) aged 18 to 36 years (mean±SD, 21±4y) with latent MTrP in one upper trapezius muscle. Intervention All subjects received a dry needling application over the upper trapezius muscle. Then, participants were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group, which received SS over the needled trapezius muscle, and a control group that did not receive any intervention. Main outcome measures Visual analog scale (VAS; at post-needling, post-treatment, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours), pressure pain threshold (PPT; at pre-needling, post-needling, 24 and 48 hours). Psychological distress was evaluated by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Results Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated a significant interaction between group and time (F3,204.8=3.19, P<.05, ηp2=0.04) for changes in post-needling soreness. Between-group differences were only significant immediately after intervention (P=.002) and there were no differences found between groups after 6 hours of the intervention (P>.05). Repeated measures of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that none of the psychological covariates affected these results. Somatization, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity and hostility were significantly correlated (P<.05) with post-needling pain intensity. Repeated measures ANOVA did not show a significant effect of SS on mechanical hiperalgesia (F2.6,175=1.9, P=.131, ηp2=0.02). Conclusions The SS had a short-term (less than 6 hours) effect reducing post-needling soreness of a latent MTrP. PPT did not significantly change after SS. Psychological factors are related to post-needling pain.
Article
Study design: Randomized clinical trial. Objectives: To determine the effects of trigger point dry needling (TrPDN) on neck pain, widespread pressure pain sensitivity, and cervical range of motion in patients with acute mechanical neck pain and active trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. Background: TrPDN seems to be effective for decreasing pain in individuals with upper-quadrant pain syndromes. Potential effects of TrPDN for decreasing pain and sensitization in individuals with acute mechanical neck pain are needed. Methods Seventeen patients (53% female) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: a single session of TrPDN or no intervention (waiting list). Pressure pain thresholds over the C5-6 zygapophyseal joint, second metacarpal, and tibialis anterior muscle; neck pain intensity; and cervical spine range-of-motion data were collected at baseline (pretreatment) and 10 minutes and 1 week after the intervention by an assessor blinded to the treatment allocation of the patient. Mixed-model analyses of variance were used to examine the effects of treatment on each outcome variable. Results: Patients treated with 1 session of TrPDN experienced greater decreases in neck pain, greater increases in pressure pain threshold, and higher increases in cervical range of motion than those who did not receive an intervention at both 10 minutes and 1 week after the intervention (P<.01 for all comparisons). Between-group effect sizes were medium to large immediately after the TrPDN session (standardized mean score differences greater than 0.56) and large at the 1-week follow-up (standardized mean score differences greater than 1.34). Conclusion: The results of the current randomized clinical trial suggest that a single session of TrPDN may decrease neck pain intensity and widespread pressure pain sensitivity, and also increase active cervical range of motion, in patients with acute mechanical neck pain. Changes in pain, pressure pain threshold, and cervical range of motion surpassed their respective minimal detectable change values, supporting clinically relevant treatment effects. Level of Evidence Therapy, level 1b-.
Article
Objectives: To determine (1) whether a novel microdialysis needle can successfully sample the biochemical milieu of trigger point 1 (TP1) in the upper trapezius muscle in healthy subjects and (2) whether there are measurable differences among those with symptoms and physical findings related to myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Design: Prospective, controlled trial. Setting: Biomedical research hospital. Participants: 3 subjects were selected based on history and physical examination for 3 groups (N=9): group 1, normal (no neck pain, no MTrP); group 2, latent (no neck pain, MTrP present); and group 3, active (neck pain, MTrP present). Intervention: Pressure algometry was performed at TP1 to determine pain pressure threshold (PPT). Samples were obtained continuously with a microdialysis needle at regular intervals, starting with needle insertion, elicitation of a local twitch response, and then posttwitch. Main Outcome Measures: PPT and levels of pH, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), bradykinin, norepinephrine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Results: The active group had a lower PPT (P<.08). Overall, the amount of substance P, CGRP, bradykinin, norepinephrine, TNFα, and IL-1β was significantly higher in the active group than in the other 2 groups (P<.01). Overall, pH was significantly lower in the active group than in the other 2 groups (P<.03). At 5 minutes, peak levels of substance P and CGRP differed significantly in all 3 groups (3>2>1, P<.02). Conclusions: This technique recovered extremely small quantities (<0.5μL) of very small substances (molecular weight, <100kd) directly from soft tissue. There were significant differences in the levels of pH, substance P, CGRP, bradykinin, norepinephrine, TNFα, and IL-1β in those subjects with an active MTrP (symptoms, MTrP present) compared with subjects with a latent MTrP (no symptoms, MTrP present) and normal subjects (no symptoms, no MTrP).
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Objectives: The purpose of this article is to review the previously published data on myofascial trigger point injection and to present a proposed technique of myofascial trigger point [TrP] injection modified from tha described by Drs. Travell and Simons. Findings: Trigger point injection is an effective and valuable procedure to inactivate an active TrP, and subsequently relieve the pain and tightness of the muscle involved in myofascial pain syndrome. It is essential to elicit a local twitch response [LTR] during TrP injection to obtain the best results of immediate relief of pain. LTR is a brisk twitching of the muscle fibers of the taut band during mechanical stimulation [including needling] on the most sensitive site, the TrP region. Sometimes, other remote TrPs can also be inactivated if the "key TrP" is appropriately selected for injection based on skillfull clinical judgement. The trigger point injections are indicated for quick relief of acute, subacute, or chronic myofascial pain, for substitution of narcotic medicine, for restoration of functional impairment due to myofascial trigger points, or for supplementary therapy of chronic myofascial pain to facilitate its recovery. It is generally recommended to use 0.5% of procaine or lidocaine at a dose of 0.5-1.0 cc per TrP region for TrP injection. The proposed technique of TrP injection includes identification of the taut band containing the active TrP, skin preparation with sterile technique, rapid needle insertion into the multiple sites of a TrP region, injection of local anesthetic only if LTR is elicited, hemostatis, stretching and spray, and appropriate post-injection cares including cold or hot pack application, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic massage, and home program. The frequency and total number of injections should be determined based on clinical judgement. Some complications, such as muscle fiber damage, excessive bleeding, infection, syncope, or internal organ injury, may occur, but are usually preventable with careful and skillful injection technique. Conclusions: A technique of trigger point injection is proposed. Other than the traditional injection method, local twitch responses should be elicited as many times as possible during injection. The insertion of the needle should be quick to minimize muscle fiber damage. This technique is usually very effective to obtain immediate and complete pain relief.
Article
Objective: This study was designed to investigate the electromyographic characteristics of the Rabbit Localized Twitch Response [R-LTR], a brisk contraction of a certain group of rabbit skeletal muscle fibers [a responsive band] elicited by mechanical stimulation of the most pressure-sensitive site [TrS]. Methods: In this study, R-LTRs were electromyographically investigated on 9 rabbits [ages 2-12 months]. Each animal was anesthetized in a way that preserved most peripheral reflexes mediated by the central nervous system. R-LTRs were elicited by one of three different mechanical stimuli; manual-probe stimulus [similar to snapping palpation], mechanical-tap stimulus [delivered by a solenoid driven blunt metal probe], or needle insertion using a solenoid-driven needle. Results: R-LTRs were best recorded from the responsive band [but not the other spots in the responsive band, or any spot in the non-responsive fibers] was mechanically stimulated. Responses to snapping stimulation were longer in duration than those to mechanical tap stimulation, which in turn were longer than R-LTRs produced by needle stimulation. This observation supports the impression that one trigger spot of the rabbit may contain multiple loci of hypersensitivity. The nearly complete loss of R-LTRs following lidocaine block or transection of the motor nerve indicates that propagation of the R-LTR is primarily via a central nervous system reflex rather than exclusively via director muscle-fiber transmission. Conclusion: The rabbit localized twitch responses [R-LTRs] show several similarities to and no incompatibility with, the human local twitch response [LTR]. The rabbit shows promise as an animal model for study of LTRs and possibly of taut bands and TrPs that are characteristic of myofascial pain syndrome.
Article
Kibler (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 30 (1998) 79) suggests that when there is dysfunction in a proximal body segment, distal segments have to change workloads in order to preserve movement outcomes at the most distal body segment. One aspect of function is the timing of muscle activation. As the presence of pain could affect the muscle activation pattern (MAP), the effects of pain-free latent myofascial trigger points (LTrPs) in the scapular rotator muscle group were investigated. Surface electromyography was used to identify the MAP of the upper and lower trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus and middle deltoid during scapular plane elevation. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the control group (n=14) and the LTrP group (n=28). The LTrP group was then randomly assigned to either placebo intervention or true treatment to investigate the effect of removing the LTrPs. The data established that LTrPs in the scapular rotator muscles changes the MAP of this muscle group and of muscles further distal in the shoulder girdle kinetic chain. Treatment to remove LTrPs normalised the MAP.
Article
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dry needling on the blood flow and oxygen saturation of the trapezius muscle. Twenty healthy participants participated in this study. One single dry needling procedure was performed in the right upper trapezius, at a point located midway between the acromion edge and the seventh cervical vertebrae. Using the oxygen to see device, blood flow and oxygen saturation were evaluated at the treated point and 3 distant points (similar point in the left upper trapezius and 30 mm laterally from this midpoint). Measurements were taken at baseline and in the recovery period (0, 5, and 15 minutes posttreatment). After removal of the needle, the blood flow and oxygen saturation increased significantly from the pretreatment level in the treated point (P ≤ .001), and these values remained high throughout the 15-minute recovery period. There were only minor changes in the distant points. These results suggest that dry needling enhances the blood flow in the stimulated region of the trapezius muscle but not in a distant region used in this study.
Article
ABSTRACT Objectives: To briefly describe myofascial trigger points and the different dry needling procedures that can be used in their treatment, and to discuss the effectiveness of dry needling techniques and their indications. Findings: There exist different dry needling techniques that can be used in the treatment of trigger points. These techniques seem to be effective in treating this condition. There seems to be an increasing number of indications of these techniques within the context of myofascial pain syndrome. Conclusions: Dry needling techniques are rapidly expanding among healthcare providers. More research is needed to know the mechanisms of dry needling in order to improve its efficiency and the patients’ tolerance of the techniques.
Article
Purpose: The purpose of this article was to determine whether strength is altered in the upper trapezius in the presence of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrP). Methods: This study was case controlled and used convenience sampling. The sample recruited was homogeneous with respect to age, sex, height, and body mass. Participants were assessed for the presence of latent MTrP in the upper trapezius and placed into two groups: an experimental group that had latent MTrP in the upper trapezius and a control group that did not. Eighteen women (mean age 21.4 y, SD 1.89; mean height 156.9 cm, SD 4.03; and mean body mass 51.7 kg, SD 5.84) made up the experimental group, and 19 women (mean age 20.3 y, SD 1.86; mean height 158.6 cm, SD 3.14; and mean body mass 53.2 kg, SD 5.17) made up the control group. We obtained strength measurements of the non-dominant arm using a handheld dynamometer and compared them between the two groups. Results: The difference in the strength measurements between the two groups was not statistically significant (p=0.59). Conclusions: The presence of latent MTrPs may not affect the strength of the upper trapezius.
Article
Diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal pain is a major clinical challenge. Fundamental knowledge of nociception from deep somatic structures and related mechanisms of sensitisation have been characterised in animals but the translation into clinical sciences is still lacking. Development and refinement of mechanism-based quantitative sensory testing in healthy volunteers and pain patients have provided new opportunities to assess pain and hyperalgesic reactions. The current technologies can provide information about, for example, peripheral and central sensitisation, descending pain control, central integration and structure specific sensitisation. Such a mechanistic approach can be used for differentiated diagnosis and for target validating new and existing analgesics. Mechanistic pain assessment of new compounds under development provides opportunities for target validation in proof-of-concept studies, which generate information to be used for selecting the most optimal patients for later clinical trials. New safe and efficient compounds are highly needed in the area of musculoskeletal pain management.
Article
In reviewing techniques for therapeutic local anaesthesia of pain spots, it appeared that the common denominator was puncture by the needle and not the anaesthetic employed. The present study examines short- and long-term effects of dry needling in the treatment of chronic myofascial pain. 241 patients and 312 pain sites were treated by needling. When the most painful spot was touched by the needle, immediate analgesia without hypesthesia was observed in 86.8% of cases. Permanent relief of tenderness in the needled structure was obtained for 92 structures; relief for several months in 58; for several weeks in 63; and for several days in 32 out of 288 pain sites followed up. The effectiveness of treatment was related to the intensity of pain produced at the trigger zone, and to the precision with which the site of maximal tenderness was located by the needle. The immediate analgesia produced by needling the pain spot has been called the "needle effect".
Article
Two basic diagnostic features of myofascial trigger points (TPs), namely, local tenderness and alteration of tissue consistency (such as in taut bands, muscle spasm), can be documented quantitatively by simple hand-held instruments. A pressure threshold meter (algometer) assists in location of TPs and their relative sensitivity. A side-to-side difference exceeding 2kg in comparison with normal values indicates pathologic tenderness. The effect of treatment can be quantified. Pressure tolerance, measured over normal muscles and shin bones, expresses pain sensitivity. Myopathy is suspected if muscle tolerance drops below bone tolerance. Tissue compliance measurement documents objectively and quantitatively alteration in soft tissue consistency. Muscle spasm, tension, spasticity, taut bands, scar tissues, or fibrositic nodules can be documented. The universal clinical dynamometer is used as part of a physical examination to quantify weakness. Thermography (heat imaging) demonstrates discoid shaped hot spots over TPs. Muscle activity, spasm, or contraction is visualized as increased heat emission in the shape of the active muscle.
Article
Myofascial trigger points (TPs) are frequently overlooked sources of acute and chronic low back pain. An active myofascial TP is suspected by its focal tenderness to palpation and by restricted stretch range of motion. The restricted lengthening of the muscle is due to the tense band of muscle fibers in which the TP is located. The presence of a TP is confirmed by a local twitch response and by reproduction of its known pattern of referred pain, which matches the distribution of the patient's pain. Only an active TP causes a clinical pain complaint; a latent TP does not. The pain can be relieved by the stretch-and-spray procedure, ischemic compression, or precise injection of the TP with procaine solution. Relief is usually long lasting only if mechanical and systemic perpetuating factors are corrected.
Article
This study was designed to investigate the effects of injection with a local anesthetic agent or dry needling into a myofascial trigger point (TrP) of the upper trapezius muscle in 58 patients. Trigger point injections with 0.5% lidocaine were given to 26 patients (Group I), and dry needling was performed on TrPs in 15 patients (Group II). Local twitch responses (LTRs) were elicited during multiple needle insertions in both Groups I and II. In another 17 patients, no LTR was elicited during TrP injection with lidocaine (9 patients, group Ia) or dry needling (8 patients, group IIa). Improvement was assessed by measuring the subjective pain intensity, the pain threshold of the TrP and the range of motion of the cervical spine. Significant improvement occurred immediately after injection into the patients in both group I and group II. In Groups Ia and Ib, there was little change in pain, tenderness or tightness after injection. Within 2-8 h after injection or dry needling, soreness (different from patients' original myofascial pain) developed in 42% of the patients in group I and in 100% of the patients in group II. Patients treated with dry needling had postinjection soreness of significantly greater intensity and longer duration than those treated with lidocaine injection. The author concludes that it is essential to elicit LTRs during injection to obtain an immediately desirable effect. TrP injection with 0.5% lidocaine is recommended, because it reduces the intensity and duration of postinjection soreness compared with that produced by dry needling.
Article
To investigate the effect of phentolamine, a sympathetic blocking agent, on the spontaneous electrical activity (SEA) recorded from a locus of a myofascial trigger spot (MTrS), equivalent to a human trigger point, in rabbit skeletal muscle. Randomized control trial. A university medical laboratory. Nine adult New Zealand rabbits. In the experimental group phentolamine mesylate (1mg/kg) was injected into the external iliac artery, followed by flushing with normal saline. The control group was treated with normal saline instead of phentolamine using the same procedure. SEA was recorded from multiple active loci of MTrSs in the biceps femoris muscle: initially SEA in the same locus was recorded before and immediately after phentolamine (or normal saline) injection; then SEA was recorded from 25 different active loci. The mean of the average integrated signal (AIS) of SEA was analyzed, comparing the effects of phentolamine and normal saline on SEA. In the same active locus, the AIS of SEA showed statistically a linear decay with time after phentolamine injection, with a correlation coefficient of .56 at p < .05. However, no statistical relationship could be derived for the control group data with time by using regression analysis, probably because of large variations among the rabbits and movement artifacts during the experiment. In 25 different loci in the phentolamine group, the mean of the AIS of SEA (7.92 microV) was significantly lower than that of the control group (9.89 microV) at p < .05. The results support the hypothesis that the autonomic nervous system is involved in the pathogenesis of myofascial trigger points. The application of the AIS as an evaluation index seems to be feasible in the quantitative measurement of SEA.
Article
Myofascial pain syndrome is a disease of muscle that produces local and referred pain. It is characterized by a motor abnormality (a taut or hard band within the muscle) and by sensory abnormalities (tenderness and referred pain). It is classified as a musculoskeletal pain syndrome that can be acute or chronic, regional or generalized. It can be a primary disorder causing local or regional pain syndromes, or a secondary disorder that occurs as a consequence of some other condition. When it becomes chronic, it tends to generalize, but it does not change to fibromyalgia. It is a treatable condition that can respond well to manual and injection techniques, but requires attention to postural, ergonomic, and structural factors, and toxic or metabolic factors that impair muscle function.
Article
Ninety percent of my patients with myofascial trigger point (MTrP) pain have this alone and are treated with superficial dry needling. Approximately 10% have concomitant MTrP pain and nerve root compression pain. These are treated with deep dry needling. Superficial Dry Needling (SDN) The activated and sensitised nociceptors of a MTrP cause it to be so exquisitely tender that firm pressure applied to it gives rise to a flexion withdrawal reflex (jump sign) and in some cases the utterance of an expletive (shout sign). The optimum strength of SDN at a MTrP site is the minimum necessary to abolish these two reactions. With respect to this patients are divided into strong, average and weak responders. The responsiveness of each individual is determined by trial and error. It is my practice to insert a needle (0.3mm × 30mm) into the tissues immediately overlying the MTrP to a depth of 5–10mm and to leave it in situ long enough for the two reactions to be abolished. For an average reactor this is about 30secs. For a weak reactor it is several minutes. And for a strong reactor the insertion of the needle and its immediate withdrawal is all that is required. Following treatment muscle stretching exercises should be carried out, and any steps taken to eliminate factors that might lead to the reactivation of the MTrPs. Deep Dry Needling (DDN) This in my practice is only used either when primary MTrP activity causes shortening of muscle sufficient enough to bring about compression of nerve roots. Or when there is nerve compression pain usually from spondylosis or disc prolapse and the secondary development of MTrP activity. Unlike SDN, DDN is a painful procedure and one which gives rise to much post-treatment soreness.
Article
This review article summarizes recent studies on myofascial trigger point (MTrP) to further clarify the mechanism of MTrP. MTrP is the major cause of muscle pain (myofascial pain) in clinical practice. There are multiple MTrP loci in an MTrP region. An MTrP locus contains a sensory component (sensitive locus) and a motor component (active locus). A sensitive locus is the site from which pain, referred pain (ReP), and local twitch response (LTR) can be elicited by needle stimulation. Sensitive loci are probably sensitized nociceptors based on a histological study. They are widely distributed in the whole muscle, but are concentrated in the endplate zone. An active locus is the site from which spontaneous electrical activity (SEA) can be recorded. Active loci are dysfunctional endplates since SEA is essentially the same as endplate noise (EPN) recorded from an abnormal endplate as reported by neurophysiologists. Both ReP and LTRs are mediated through spinal cord mechanisms, demonstrated in both human and animal studies. The pathogenesis of MTrPs appears to be related to the integration in the spinal cord (formation of MTrP circuits) in response to the disturbance of the nerve endings and abnormal contractile mechanism at multiple dysfunctional endplates. Methods usually applied to treat MTrPs include stretch, massage, thermotherapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, MTrP injection, dry needling, and acupuncture. The mechanism of acupuncture is similar to dry needling or MTrP injection. The new technique of MTrP injection can also be used to treat neurogenic spasticity.
Article
The issue of what constitutes an effective and realistic acupuncture placebo control has been a continuing problem for acupuncture research. In order to provide an effective placebo, the control procedure must be convincing, visible and should mimic, in all respects, apart from a physiological effect, the real active treatment. The 'Streitberger' needle might fulfil these criteria and this paper reports on a validation study. This was a single-blind, randomised, cross-over pilot study. Patients were drawn from the orthopaedic hip and knee, joint replacement waiting list. Intervention consisted of either 2 weeks of treatment with real acupuncture followed by 2 weeks on placebo, or vice versa. The prime outcome was a needle sensation questionnaire and there was a range of secondary outcomes. Thirty-seven patients were randomised and completed treatment. Groups were well balanced at baseline. No significant differences between groups or needle types were found for any of the sensations measured. Most patients were unable to discriminate between the needles by penetration; however, nearly 40% were able to detect a difference in treatment type between needles. No major differences in outcome between real and placebo needling could be found. The fact that nearly 40% of subjects did not find that the two interventions were similar, however, raises some concerns with regard to the wholesale adoption of this instrument as a standard acupuncture placebo. Further work on inter-tester reliability and standardisation of technique is highly recommended before we can be confident about using this needle in further studies.
Article
Myofascial pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) is a common cause of nonarticular musculoskeletal pain. Although the presence of MTrPs can be determined by soft tissue palpation, little is known about the mechanisms and biochemical milieu associated with persistent muscle pain. A microanalytical system was developed to measure the in vivo biochemical milieu of muscle in near real time at the subnanogram level of concentration. The system includes a microdialysis needle capable of continuously collecting extremely small samples (∼0.5 μl) of physiological saline after exposure to the internal tissue milieu across a 105-μm-thick semi-permeable membrane. This membrane is positioned 200 μm from the tip of the needle and permits solutes of <75 kDa to diffuse across it. Three subjects were selected from each of three groups (total 9 subjects): normal (no neck pain, no MTrP); latent (no neck pain, MTrP present); active (neck pain, MTrP present). The microdialysis needle was inserted in a standardized location in the upper trapezius muscle. Due to the extremely small sample size collected by the microdialysis system, an established microanalytical laboratory, employing immunoaffinity capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography, performed analysis of selected analytes. Concentrations of protons, bradykinin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, serotonin, and norepinephrine were found to be significantly higher in the active group than either of the other two groups (P < 0.01). pH was significantly lower in the active group than the other two groups (P < 0.03). In conclusion, the described microanalytical technique enables continuous sampling of extremely small quantities of substances directly from soft tissue, with minimal system perturbation and without harmful effects on subjects. The measured levels of analytes can be used to distinguish clinically distinct groups.
Article
Needle stimulation (acupuncture) has recently been shown to increase blood flow in the tibialis anterior muscle and overlying skin in healthy subjects (HS) and patients with fibromyalgia (FM). The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of needle stimulation on local blood flow in the trapezius muscle and overlying skin in HS and two groups of patients suffering from chronic pain in the trapezius muscle, i.e., FM and work-related trapezius myalgia (TM) patients. Two modes of needling, deep muscle stimulation (Deep) and subcutaneous needle insertion (SC), were performed at the upper part of the shoulder and blood flow was monitored for 60 min post-stimulation. Blood flow changes were measured non-invasively by using a new application of photoplethysmography. Increased blood flow in the trapezius muscle and overlying skin was found in all three groups following both Deep and SC. In HS, Deep was superior to SC in increasing skin and muscle blood flow, whereas in FM, SC was as effective as, or even more effective, than Deep. In the severely affected TM patients, no differences were found between the stimuli, and generally, a lesser blood flow response to the stimuli was found. At Deep, the muscle blood flow increase was significantly larger in HS, compared to the two patient groups. Positive correlations were found between muscle blood flow at Deep and pressure pain threshold in the trapezius muscle, neck movement and pain experienced at the stimulation, and negative correlations were found with spontaneous pain-related variables, symptom duration and age, pointing to less favorable results with worsening of symptoms, and to the importance of nociceptor activation in blood flow increase. It was hypothesized that the different patterns of muscle blood flow response to the needling may mirror a state of increased sympathetic activity and a generalized hypersensitivity in the patients. The intensity of stimulation should be taken into consideration when applying local needle stimulation (acupuncture) in order to increase the trapezius muscle blood flow in chronic pain conditions.
Article
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is caused by myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) located within taut bands of skeletal muscle fibers. Treating the underlying etiologic lesion responsible for MTrP activation is the most important strategy in MPS therapy. If the underlying pathology is not given the appropriate treatment, the MTrP cannot be completely and permanently inactivated. Treatment of active MTrPs may be necessary in situations in which active MTrPs persist even after the underlying etiologic lesion has been treated appropriately. When treating the active MTrPs or their underlying pathology, conservative treatment should be given before aggressive therapy. Effective MTrP therapies include manual therapies, physical therapy modalities, dry needling, or MTrP injection. It is also important to eliminate any perpetuating factors and provide adequate education and home programs to patients so that recurrent or chronic pain can be avoided.
Article
To evaluate interrater reliability using 5 newly trained observers in the assessment of pressure pain threshold (PPT) using a fixed-angle algometer. The study design comprised 2 phases. Phase 1: 5 undergraduate physical therapists were trained in algometry at a predefined angle, at a rate of 5 Newtons (N)/s, to the first dorsal interosseous muscle. Each observer then underwent a competency test of the application speed. The aim was to achieve repeated applications at 5 N/s without visual feedback from the algometer. Phase 2: the 5 observers measured PPT of 13 healthy volunteers, at the first dorsal interosseous muscle. The sequence of observer measurements for each participant was randomized. Mean PPT values for each observer were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1), and standard error of measurement, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). No significant differences between observers' mean values were found (P=0.094), suggesting no bias. The ICC was 0.91 (95% CI 0.82, 0.97). The standard error of measurement value was 6.27 N/cm (95% CI 5.35, 7.59). Differences in PPT measurements of more than 17.39 N/cm (1.77 kg/cm) are likely to exceed the magnitude of measurement error, and could be used to indicate true change. This margin of error is, however, somewhat larger than a previously proposed minimum clinically important difference in PPT of 14.71 N/cm (1.5 kg/cm). This study provides new evidence that trained observers can apply an algometer at a consistent rate and provide highly reliable measures of PPT in healthy humans, when PPT is calculated as the mean of 3 trials.
Travell y Simons dolor y disfunción miofascial: el manual de los puntos gatillo. Madrid: Médica Panamericana
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  • L S Simons
Simons DG, Travell JG and Simons LS. Travell y Simons dolor y disfunción miofascial: el manual de los puntos gatillo. Madrid: Médica Panamericana, 2002.
Tratamiento del punto gatillo miofascial 1del músculo trapecio superior con punción seca superficial
  • J Ruiz Illán
  • Sánchez Ayuso
  • Cubero Climent
Ruiz Illán J, Sánchez Ayuso J, Cubero Climent E, et al. Tratamiento del punto gatillo miofascial 1del músculo trapecio superior con punción seca superficial. FIsioterapia y calidad de vida 2010; 13: 5-16.
Goniometría: una herramienta para la evaluación de las incapacidades laborales
  • C H Taboadela
Taboadela CH. Goniometría: una herramienta para la evaluación de las incapacidades laborales. 1st ed. Buenos Aires: Asociart ART, 2007.
Fisiología articular: dibujos comentados de mecánica humana. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana
  • A I Kapandji
  • G Saillant
  • Torres Lacomba