Table 4.

Types of interventions, treatment regime and outcome measures

Trial	Intervention	Trigger points and Acupuncture points selected for treatment	Outcome measure	Number of treatment sessions per week
Tillu and Gupta (1998)	25 mm acupuncture needle (diameter unknown) inserted for 15 minutes and stimulated every 5 minutes for 5 sec. Needle was manipulated to produce de qi. No control group.	(i) Acupuncture points KI.3; BL.60 and SP.6 (ii) Gastrocnemius MTrP and heel MTrP. Specific location of MTrP in the heel and calf not identified.	(i) Visual analogue scale (ii) Verbal pain score Outcome measures recorded at 4 and 6 weeks post baseline.	4 sessions of acupuncture/1 per week. If symptoms were not resolved after this period, 2 sessions (1 per week) of acupuncture and dry needling were implemented.
Imamura et al. (1998)	22-25 gauge needle repetitively inserted and withdrawn with injection of 1% lidocaine into the MTrP; plus *standard therapy. Control group received conventional conservative therapy but not outlined in the methods.	Medial head of Gastrocnemius; Soleus; Tibialis posterior; Popliteus; Abductor hallucis; Peroneus Longus and Flexor digitorum brevis	(i) Duration of treatment (ii) Visual analogue scale (iii) Pressure pain threshold Outcome measures recorded at discharge, 6 and 24 months	The number of sessions and times per week varied between the groups
Perez-Millan and Foster (2001)	10-120 mm acupuncture needle (0.20-0.25 mm diameter); plus electrostimulator (2-4 Hz) for 20-30 minutes. No control group.	(i) Acupuncture points KI.1, 3, 6; BL.60, 67; GB 44 (ii) MTrPs points in the heel and arch regions	(i) Visual analogue scale (ii) **Foot function index questionnaire Outcome measures recorded at 6 weeks post baseline	6 sessions/1 per week

Key:

MTrP = myofascial trigger point.

*Standard therapy = implemented once per day for three days following the injection: included: (i) heat (20min) and faradic stimulation over affected area for 20 min, (ii) stretching for three days, 3 times per day for 15 seconds after hot pack application, (iii) participants advised to avoid walking and standing for two days post injection.

** Foot function index questionnaire used in this trial was not validated.