No Evidence of Short-term Changes in Muscle Activity Elicited by Dry Needling in Chronic Unilateral Shoulder Pain Patients

Leonardo Intelangelo; Cristian Mendoza; Ignacio Lassaga; Alexandre C Barbosa; José Biurrun Manresa; Christian Mista

doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000001151

No Evidence of Short-term Changes in Muscle Activity Elicited by Dry Needling in Chronic Unilateral Shoulder Pain Patients

Clin J Pain. 2023 Nov 1;39(11):595-603. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001151.

Authors

Leonardo Intelangelo¹, Cristian Mendoza¹, Ignacio Lassaga¹, Alexandre C Barbosa², José Biurrun Manresa^{3

4}, Christian Mista^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Musculoskeletal Research Unit-UIM, University Center for Assistance, Teaching, and Research-CUADI, University of Gran Rosario-UGR, Rosario, Santa Fe.
² Department of Physical Therapy, Musculoskeletal Research Group-NIME, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, São Pedro, Governador Valadares, Brazil.
³ Institute for Research and Development on Bioengineering and Bioinformatics (IBB), CONICET-UNER.
⁴ Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering and Neuromuscular and Sensory Research (CIRINS), Faculty of Engineering, National University of Entre Ríos, Oro Verde, Entre Ríos, Argentina.

PMID: 37440340
DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001151

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess short-term changes in shoulder muscle activity elicited by dry needling in chronic unilateral shoulder pain (USP) patients.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted, in which 30 volunteers with USP were recruited and randomly assigned to either real or sham dry needling conditions. Pain intensity scores, pressure pain threshold, glenohumeral internal rotation angles, and electromyographic activity during isotonic shoulder tasks (shoulder flexion and extension) were assessed before, immediately, and 72 hours after the intervention in the infraspinatus and deltoid muscles.

Results: A single application of real dry needling resulted in lower pain intensity scores and a larger range in glenohumeral internal rotation 72 hours after the intervention in comparison with sham dry needling. No differences in pressure pain threshold or muscle activity were observed due to the intervention.

Discussion: A single application of real dry needling resulted in clinically significant changes in the short term. No differences were detected in muscle activation in the infraspinatus or deltoid muscles. Complementary interventions and longer follow-up times may be required to observe changes in muscle activity.