A Literature Review on Dry Needling (DN) and Traditional Acupuncture (TA) for Treating Myofascial Pain
Abstract
This literature review was conducted in order to determine if dry needling (DN) is more effective than traditional acupuncture (TA) in the treatment of myofascial pain. Likewise, physiological mechanisms of DN and TA were investigated to determine if DN was superior to TA in the treatment of myofascial pain. This review is composed of peer-reviewed literature evaluating the bio mechanisms theorized to achieve pain relief in DN and TA. Research specifically on TA for myofascial pain was scarce. The evidence did not prove that DN is superior to TA in the treatment of myofascial pain. Neither did it prove the mechanism of DN to be different from TA in the treatment of myofascial pain. Dry needling appears to be a derivative form of TA, yet it proves effective at treating myofascial pain. The literature does show that the impact of TA on the limbic system may improve both metrics of stress and sleep, which have been shown to be prognostic factors in the treatment outcome with DN. The research did favor specific needling technique, suggesting that rotation is more beneficial than pistoning (lifting and thrusting in TA), that shallow and deep needling may achieve similar results, and that there may be no need for a latent twitch response. The integrative language between Western medicine and Eastern medicine age may assist to translate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into modern physiology and anatomy. Further research should test the combination of local and distal needling to each individually and test point selection based on differential diagnosis.
Download PaperKeywords: acupuncture, acupuncture therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, trigger points, myofascial pain, dry needling, pain mechanism, fMRI, traditional acupuncture, meridian acupuncture
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