Efectividad del tratamiento con punción seca profunda frente a un protocolo de fisioterapia manual en el músculo trapecio superior

Abstract

- Background: Neck pain is a common problem in the general population who presents an elevated prevalence inside the students being able to generate a high degree of disability. Neck pain is related to musculoskeletal disorders and the presence of myofascial trigger points in the muscle are one of the principal causes of pain. - Objective: To compare the effectiveness of deep dry needling versus a manual therapy protocol in a myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle. - Methodology: It was realized a randomized and controlled clinical study with a sample of 94 students (32 man and 64 women, main age of 20,61 (±2,31)), of the University of Alcala. The participants were randomly assigned in 2 groups: one of them received a treatment of deep dry needling at a myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius and the other, a manual therapy protocol in the same point. The outcome measures, before and after the treatment and in the 3 checks-ups after the treatment, were: the pain perception with the visual analogical scale, the pressure pain threshold with an algometer, the range of cervical motion with a goniometer and the degree of disability with the Northwick Park Questionnaire. - Results: Both treatments have proved to be effective without significant differences between groups except in the variable algometry, where deep dry needling seems to present major efficiency. - Conclusions: Deep dry needling and a manual therapy protocol have proved to be effective in the treatment of a myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle in patients with neck pain without differences between groups. More studies are needed to understand the effectiveness of deep dry needling and to justify its use inside the physiotherapy.