Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Efficacy of dry needling as an adjunct to manual therapy for patients with chronic mechanical neck pain: a randomised clinical trial.
Chronic mechanical neck pain is associated with musculoskeletal tissue alterations. Active trigger points in the trapezius and levator scapulae muscles are common in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. In this study, we compared the effect of dry needling (DN) combined with manual therapy (MT) to sham dry needling (SDN) combined with MT on pain, pain pressure threshold, cervical range of motion and neck disability in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. ⋯ 1b.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Post-needling soreness and trigger point dry needling for hemiplegic shoulder pain following stroke.
To determine the presence of post-needling induced pain in subjects who had suffered a stroke and received trigger point (TrP) dry needling (DN), and to investigate the effects of including TrP-DN into a rehabilitation program for shoulder pain in this population. ⋯ This trial found that 50% of stroke patients receiving DN experienced post-needling induced pain, a side effect that almost disappeared 72 h after the intervention without any additional therapeutic action. In addition, the inclusion of TrP-DN into a rehabilitation session was effective at decreasing shoulder pain in these patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Self-administered acupressure for knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
To test the acceptability and feasibility of self-administered acupressure as an intervention for knee pain among middle-aged and older adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). ⋯ A two-session self-administered acupressure training was acceptable to and feasible in participants with KOA. The data generated allowed for calculation of a sample size for a definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT) to confirm whether self-acupressure is effective for pain management in KOA. Furthermore trials with adequate power and longer follow-up periods are warranted.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of dry needling in the sternocleidomastoid muscle on cervical motor control in patients with neck pain: a randomised clinical trial.
To determine the changes produced by trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) of sternocleidomastoid in patients with neck pain, and to observe how it might modify cervical motor control (CMC). ⋯ The effects of TrP-DN inside and outside of active myofascial trigger points did not differ in this study. Both interventions were associated with a similar temporal effect, specifically a reduction in neck pain at 1 week and an increase CMC at 1 month. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of a contemporaneous untreated control group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Supporting informed choice in acupuncture: effects of a new person-, evidence- and theory-based website for patients with back pain.
To test whether a newly developed person-, theory- and evidence-based website about acupuncture helps patients make informed decisions about whether or not to use acupuncture for back pain. ⋯ The enhanced website improved patients' knowledge and ability to make an informed choice about acupuncture, but did not optimise treatment beliefs or change willingness to have acupuncture. The enhanced website could be used to support informed decision-making among primary care patients and members of the general public considering using acupuncture for back pain.