Day of peak pain reduction by a single session of dry needling in the upper trapezius myofascial trigger points: A 14 daily follow-up study

Background: Dry needling (DN) is commonly used to inactivate myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). However, a daily report of pain reduction has not been determined.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the time of the greatest pain relief after performing a single session of DN in MTrPs of the upper trapezius muscle.

Methods: A patient who had MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle was enrolled into a prospective descriptive study. Each patient received a single session of DN, using a fast-in-fast-out technique, with needle retention for 30 min. Numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were collected daily for 14 days. The mean difference of pain and an effect size were calculated. The 1-5 satisfaction score was a secondary outcome.

Results: Sixty-seven subjects completed the intervention. The mean duration of the symptom was 27.32 months. The mean baseline NRS score was 5.30. The pain decreased significantly between immediate post-procedure and 1 day after the DN treatment from 5.16 to 3.40 (mean difference 1.76, p < 0.01, effect size = 0.87). The pain continuously reduced until day 10 and then it gradually rose. The pain on day 10 was compared with the baseline that revealed the largest effect size of 3.08 (mean difference 4.67, p < 0.01). Eighty-eight percent of the subjects were very satisfied with their treatment.

Conclusions: A single session of DN treatment in the upper trapezius MTrPs combined with self-stretching exercises could greatly reduce pain between immediate post-procedure and 1 day after DN treatment. The peak effect on pain reduction occurred on day 10.