Trigger point therapy

Alternate names: Deep Dry Needling, Dry Needling, Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, NMT, Positional Release Therapy, PRT, TPT, Trigger Point Injection, Trigger Point Management

Background

Trigger point therapy involves quickly stimulating irritable spots in muscle in order to relax the muscle. This stimulation usually involves a needle without anything on it. This is called dry needling. However, some trigger point therapy also involves injecting medication into the trigger point to reduce pain.

Trigger point therapy is used for various types of pain, including back pain, a condition that causes persistent muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome), neck pain, joint pain, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, and abdominal pain. But there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.

Safety Safety definitions

Trigger point therapy is POSSIBLY SAFE when used properly by someone who has been trained in trigger point therapy. But it can cause serious side effects if the needle goes into the area around the lungs or into the spine.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if trigger point therapy is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. However, there is no reason to expect safety issues.

Effectiveness

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions

Back pain. Most research shows that using different types of trigger point therapy, like dry needling or injecting an anesthetic into a trigger point, can help to reduce low back pain.
A condition that causes persistent muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome). Most research shows that placing dry needles into trigger points can reduce muscle pain in that area. Some research also shows that using dry needling along with other treatments like stretching can reduce pain more than stretching alone.
Tension headache. Most research shows that placing dry needles at trigger points helps to reduce the number and intensity of tension headaches, although some early research disagrees. Most research also shows that trigger point therapy with dry needling helps people with tension headaches to move their neck better.

Insufficient evidence Effectiveness definitions

Stomach pain. Early research shows that trigger point therapy might improve abdominal pain in some people.
Fibromyalgia. Early research shows that trigger point therapy might reduce pain in some people with fibromyalgia.
Joint pain. Early research shows that trigger point therapy might work as well as a steroid shot for some kinds of hip pain.
Kidney stones. Early research shows that injecting a drug called lidocaine into trigger points might help to reduce pain in some people with kidney stones.
Migraine. Some research shows that dry needling into trigger points might help to prevent migraines. Some research shows that it might work as well as some medicines used to prevent migraines.
Muscle strength. In athletes, early research shows that trigger point therapy with dry needles is no better than a placebo for improving muscle strength.
Neck pain. Early research shows that trigger point therapy with dry needles might help to reduce neck pain in people with neck pain that is not from a specific injury. But early research shows that trigger point therapy with dry needles doesn't help to reduce pain from whiplash.
Osteoarthritis. Early research suggests that trigger point therapy with dry needling doesn't improve pain and function in people with osteoarthritis who are in an exercise program.
Heel pain. Early research suggests that trigger point therapy with dry needling helps with heel pain.
Shoulder pain. Early research suggests that trigger point therapy with dry needling doesn't improve shoulder pain due to rotator cuff or pinching injuries.
Stroke. Early research suggests that trigger point therapy with dry needling helps some people who have had a stroke to move their shoulders better. But it doesn't seem to help with muscle cramps.
A group of painful conditions that affect the jaw joint and muscle (temporomandibular disorders or TMD). Early research shows that trigger point therapy with dry needling might have a small effect on pain in people with TMD. But not all research agrees.
Bursitis.
Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Chronic pain.
Herniated disk.
Postoperative pain.
A sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis).
Pain due to pressure on the sciatic nerve (sciatica).
Sports injuries.
Stress.
Other Conditions.

Dosing & administration

The appropriate or safe use of trigger point therapy depends on several factors such as the condition being treated or the person administering the treatment. Be sure to seek and follow relevant directions from your physician or other healthcare professional before using this treatment.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

It is not known if this treatment interacts with any medicines. Before using this treatment, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

Interactions with foods

There are no known interactions with foods.

Action

It is not clear how trigger point therapy works. Some people think that the needle might prevent the nerves and muscles from working too much in a specific spot. Other people think that the needle might increase the chemicals in the body that help a person to relax. But there is no good scientific evidence to support these theories.

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This monograph was last reviewed on 17/06/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 30/12/2020 01:08:43. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.

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