Table 1.
Studies characteristics.
| Study | N (age) | Intervention | Muscles involves | Dosage and follow-up | Outcomes | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campa-Moran et al. [23] |
N: 36 (18−75 y) |
G1 (n: 12): DN + stretch G2 (n: 12): MT G3 (n: 12): soft tissue treatment |
Upper trapezius bilateral Levator scapulae bilateral |
Tt: 2 ss (break of 48 h) DN: at least 3 LTR (2 min each point) Needle: 0.26 × 25 mm Follow-up: baseline, post 1st ss, post 2nd ss, and 1 week |
VAS NDI (B, 1 wk) PPT ROM PCS (B, 1 wk) AE |
G1: improved NDI, VAS, and flexion at 1 wk G2: improved in all outcomes and follow-ups G3: not improved G2 > G1 fx-Ext ROM + PPT (C5-C6) G2 > G3 PPT + ROM AE: no |
|
| ||||||
| Ceballos-Laita et al. [24] |
N: 21 (30−65 y) |
G1 (n: 7): DN + control G2 (n: 7): DNs + control G3 (n: 7): control (TENS + US) |
Active MTrPs (at most 3 pts that reproduce symptoms) | G1/G2: G3 + 1 ss/wk (2 wk) G3: 5 ss/wk (2 wk)-15 min TENS + 5 min US + 10 education DN: reach LTR Needle: 0.25 × 40 mm Follow-up: baseline and postintervention |
VAS NDI TSK PCS HADS GROC |
G1 improved in all outcomes except HADS G1 > G2 and G3 for VAS, NDI and PCS G1 ⟶ 71.4% “great deal better” G2 + G3 ⟶ “moderately better” (71.4%; 42.9%) |
|
| ||||||
| Cerezo-Tellez et al. [25] |
N: 138 (>18 y) |
G1 (n: 64): DN + stretch G2 (n: 64): stretch |
Trapezius Levator scapulae Splenius cervicis Multifidi |
Tt: 2 ss/wk (2 wk) DN: 4-5 LTR Needle: 0.32 × 40 mm Follow-up: baseline, 1 wk, 3 wk, 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 7 m |
VAS NDI PPT ROM Strength AE |
G1 and G2 improved in all outcomes G1 > G2 in all outcomes and follow-ups| AE: no |
|
| ||||||
| Gallego-Sendarrubias et al. [26] |
N: 50 (18–60) |
G1 (n:25): DN G2 (n:25): DNs |
Upper trapezius | Tt: 1 ss DN: 3-4 LTR Needle: x Follow-up: baseline, 1 d, 1 wk |
VAS PPT GROC AE |
G1 > G2 in all outcomes G1 ⟶ GROC ≧+5 AE: mild |
|
| ||||||
| Gallego-Sendarrubias et al. [27] |
N: 101 (18−55 y) |
G1(n: 47): DN + MT G2 (n: 53): DNs + MT |
Upper + lower trapezius Levator scapulae |
Tt: 1 ss/wk (2 wk) 55 min (5 min DN + 50 MT) DN: 10s up & down Needle: 0.32 × 40 mm Follow-up: baseline, postintervention, and 1 m |
NPRS NDI (B + 1 m) PPT ROM AE |
G1 and G2 improved NPRS, NDI and PPT all follow-ups G1 > G2 in all outcomes AE: no |
|
| ||||||
| Garcia-De-Miguel et al. [28] |
N: 44 (>18 y) |
G1 (n: 22): DN G2 (n: 22): DN + PENS |
Levator scapulae | Tt: 1 ss 55 min (5 min DN + 50 MT) DN: 8–10 needle insertions Needle: 0.25 × 25 mm Follow-up: baseline, postintervention, 48 h, and 1 wk |
VAS NDI (1 wk) PPT ROM Strength |
G1 and G2 improved in all outcomes G2 > G1 on NDI and PPT for all follow-ups |
|
| ||||||
| Leon-Hernandez et al. [29] |
N: 62 (18–48 y) |
G1 (n: 31): DN G2 (n: 31): DN + PENS |
Upper trapezius | Tt: 1 ss DN: 2 LTR Needle: 0.32 × 40 mm Follow-up: baseline, postintervention, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h |
VAS (postDN soreness [24,48, 72 h] & pain [post, 72 h]) NDI (post, 72 h) PPT (post, 72 h) ROM (post, 72 h) |
G1 and G2 on pain, soreness, NDI, ROM extension & lateral flexions in all follow-ups G2 > G1 on pain and PPT in postintervention. Not differences between groups for other outcomes |
|
| ||||||
| Manafnezhad et al. [30] |
N: 72 (>18 y) |
G1 (n: 36): DN G2 (n: 36): ESWT |
Upper trapezius | Tt: 1 ss/wk (3 wk) DN: 1-2 LTRs Needle: 0.32 × 40 mm Follow-up: baseline, 1 wk |
NPRS NDI PPT |
G1 and G2 improved in all outcomes G1 > G2 in NDI |
|
| ||||||
| Navaee et al. [31] |
N: 40 (18−35 y) |
G1 (n: 20): DN G2 (n: 20): stretch |
Upper trapezius | Tt: 2 ss/wk (3 wk) DN: until LTRs finished Needle: 0.3 × 50 mm Follow-up: baseline and 1 wk |
VAS PPT |
G1 and G2 improved in all outcomes and follow-ups G1 > G2 |
|
| ||||||
| Pecos-Martin et al. [32] | N:72 | G1 (n: 36): DN G2 (n: 36): control (1.5 cm of TrP) |
Lower trapezius | Tt: 1 ss DN: 8–10 needle insertions Needle: 0.25 × 25 mm Follow-up: baseline, postintervention, 1 wk, and 1 m |
VAS NPQ PPT |
G1 improved in all outcomes and follow-ups G1 > G2 |
|
| ||||||
| Stieven et al. [33] |
N: 44 (18–50 y) |
G1(n: 15): DN G2 (n: 14): MR G3 (n: 15): DNs |
Upper trapezius | Tt: 1 ss DN: 3 LTR Needle: 0.25 × 30 mm Follow-up: baseline, immediately postintervention, and 10 min after |
NPRS PPT NDI (B) FABQ (B) AE |
G1 + G2 improved in all outcomes and follow-ups. Not G3 G1/G2 > G3 G1 > G2 AE: no |
|
| ||||||
| Stieven et al. [34] |
N: 116 (18–65 y) |
G1 (n: 58): DN + PT G2 (n: 58): PT |
Upper and middle trapezius Cervical multifidi Splenius cervicis Levator scapulae |
Tt: 4-6 ss/4 wk 40 min DN: 6 LTR Needle: 0.25 × 40 mm Follow-up: baseline, 1 m, 3 m, and 6 m |
NPRS NDI GPES PSQI PCS PSEQ AE |
G1 > G2 all outcomes at 1 m. Not for 3 m and 6 m AE: mild |
|
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| Valiente-Castrillo et al. [35] |
N: 62 (18−65 y) |
G1 (n:21): DN G2 (n:21): DN + education G3 (n:20): usual care (electrotherapy) |
Upper trapezius Cervical multifidi Splenius cervicis Levator scapulae |
G1: 3 ss/wk (2 wk) G2: G1 + 3 ss education G3: 5 ss/wk (2 wk) DN: 5 LTR Needle: 0.32 × 40 mm Follow-up: baseline, postintervention, 1 m, and 3 m |
VAS NDI TSK PCS FPQ SOPA PASS-20 AE |
G1 and G2 improved et al. follow-ups. G3 only postintervention G1/G2 > G3 for all follow-ups G2 > G1 for postintervention AE: no |
|
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| Zheng et al. [36] |
N: 169 (>18 y) |
G1 (n: 81): DN (UG) G2 (n: 88): MNS (UG) |
Posterior to the articular process of C6 | Tt: 1 ss/wk (3 wk) DN: 2-3 insertions Needle: x Follow-up: baseline, 3 m, and 6 m |
VAS NDI SF-36 AE |
All outcome improved for both groups et al. follow-ups G2 > G1 for all outcomes and follow-ups AE: mild |
∗ AE: adverse event; DN: dry needling; DNs: sham dry needling; ESWT: extracorporeal shock wave therapy; FABQ: fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire; FPQ: fear pain questionnaire; GROC: global rating of change scale; GPES: global perceived effect scale; HADS: hospital anxiety and depression scale; LTR: local twitch response; MT: manual therapy; m: month; MR: myofascial release; NPRS: numeric pain rating scale; NPQ: neck pain questionnaire; NDI: neck disability index; PPT: pressure pain threshold; PCS: pain catastrophizing scale; PSQI: Pittsburgh sleep quality index; PSEQ: pain self-efficacy questionnaire; PASS-20: 20-point pain anxiety symptoms scale; PENS: percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; PT: physical therapy; ROM: range of motion; SF-36: health status scale; ss: sessions; SOPA: survey of pain attitudes; TSK: Tampa scale of Kinesiophobia; TENS: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; Tt: treatment; TrP: trigger point; US: ultrasound; VAS: visual analogue scale; wk: week; y: years.