Comparing the remote effects of dry needling and ischemic pressure on pain intensity and threshold of the myofascial trigger points in women: A Single Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the remote effects of upper trapezius (UT) Dry needling (DN) and ischemic pressure (IP) on the pain intensity and threshold of the MTrPs in the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) and the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscles. Methods: Twenty-eight subjects were allocated into two groups in a randomized clinical trial study undergoing DN and IP interventions on the MTrPs of the UT muscle for 3 sessions. Pressure pain intensity was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) before and after interventions. Upper limb functions were evaluated by the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire. Results: There were significant interactions between muscle, group, and time for PPT, muscle and group, group and time, and muscle and time for VAS (P < 0.05). In DN group, PPTs and VAS of the ECRL and FDI were changed after treatment in all sessions (P < 0.05). In ECRL and FDI muscles, the DN was more effective than IP (P < 0.05). Comparing the pain intensity and threshold of the ECRL, FDI, and UT muscles it was revealed that the improvement in symptoms of the ECRL muscle was the most in the DN group (P < 0.05). There was a significant interaction between group and time for DASH (P < 0.05). In both groups, the DASH score was reduced (P < 0.001). Conclusions: UT muscle DN demonstrated significantly better remote effects in alleviating symptoms of the ipsilateral distal muscles than IP. Both interventions were effective in improving the upper limb function in myofascial pain syndrome patients.