Dry needling in adults with myofascial trigger points- A Mini Review

Abstract

Myofascial pain syndrome is a common cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain and functional limitation in adults around the globe. Dry needling has gained attention as a rehabilitative intervention for myofascial trigger points. This mini review examined the effectiveness of dry needling for adults with myofascial pain by synthesizing evidence from randomized controlled trials. An online search of PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library identified six trials meeting inclusion criteria. These studies suggested dry needling was associated with reductions in pain intensity, improvements in range of motion, and decreased muscle stiffness, with most evidence focussed on cervical and upper-extremity conditions. Several trials reported better outcomes when dry needling was combined with interventions such as manual therapy, exercise, or electrical stimulation. Although variability in treatment protocols limit standardization, findings suggest that dry needling can be used within multimodal rehabilitation. These results are particularly relevant for occupational therapists and rehabilitation professionals seeking efficient, lowresource strategies to improve pain and movement outcomes in adults with myofascial pain.

Keywords: myofascial pain syndrome, musculoskeletal pain, occupational therapy, pain management, range of motion, rehabilitation.