Combined effect of dry needling and muscle energy technique on neck pain of myofascial origin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint, with a point prevalence of 15% of males and 23% of females experiencing symptoms. Approximately 20% of individuals visiting orthopaedic clinics have neck pain that originates from myofascial cause. Persistence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the neck for long periods results in headache, dizziness or vertigo, limited neck and shoulder range of motion (ROM), abnormal sensation, autonomic dysfunction, and disability. AIM: The purpose of the study was to determine the combined effect of dry needling (DN) and muscle energy technique (MET) on neck pain of myofascial origin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six subjects, both male and female, aged 20–40 years with MTrPs in the upper trapezius (UT) and levator scapulae (LS) muscles having unilateral or bilateral pain in the neck, were recruited with a convenience sampling technique. The subjects were equally (n = 12) divided into three groups: Group A received only MET, Group B received only DN, and Group C received both DN and MET. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), pain pressure threshold (PPT) levels, and cervical ROM were assessed at baseline and after each intervention. The subjects were treated for three sessions with a 2-days break between each session, and the outcomes were assessed. The data collected were analyzed by SPSS (version 26). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Significant improvements were observed in all the three groups in terms of decrease in the VAS, NDI, and PCS scores (P < 0.05). The PPT levels on both UT and LS muscles, along with ROM of cervical (lateral flexion and rotation), were improved (P < 0.05) in all the three groups; however, Group DN + MET showed (P < 0.01) better results. Therefore, the combined use of DN and MET is recommended as a better technique for the management of myofascial neck pain.