Table 2.
Interventions, procedures, and results of the clinical trials based on the application of DN in the treatment of CNP.
| Author (Year) | DN Interventions Protocols | Alternative Treatment | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irnich et al. (2002) | 1 session DN trapezius, splenius, levator scapula, semispinalis, sternocleidomastoid, scalenus, and paravertebral muscles (LTR: Yes) |
1 session: needle acupuncture at distant point/sham laser acupuncture |
There are no differences between DN and sham laser acupuncture |
| Llamas-Ramos et al. (2014) | 2 sessions in 2 weeks: DN upper trapezius (LTR: Yes) | 2 sessions in 2 weeks: trigger point manual therapy (compression, stretching, and friction massage) | ↓ Pain ↑ PPT ↑ ROM ↓ Disability |
| Cerezo-Téllez et al. (2016) | 4 sessions in 2 weeks: DN multifidus, splenius, upper trapezius, and levator scapula (LTR: Yes) + passive stretching |
4 sessions in 2 weeks: Passive stretching |
↓ Pain ↑ PPT ↑ ROM ↑ Strength ↓ NDI |
| Sobhani et al. (2017) | 5 sessions in 10 days: bilateral DN upper trapezius and levator scapulae (LTR: not specified) + passive stretching |
5 sessions in 10 days: manual therapy (ischemic trigger point compression)/kinesiotaping on trigger points |
↓ Pain ↓ Catastrophism ↑ ROM ↓ NDI |
| Manafnezhad et al. (2019) | 3 sessions, 1 per week: DN upper trapezius (LTR: Yes) |
3 sessions, 1 per week: Shock waves in upper trapezius |
↓ Pain ↓ NDI ↑ PPT |
| Gallego- Sendarrubias et al. (2020) |
2 sessions with 1 week interval: DN trapezius and levator scapulae (LTR: Yes) + manual therapy |
2 sessions with 1 week interval: sham DN + manual therapy | ↓ Pain ↑ PPT ↑ ROM ↓ NDI |
| Stieven et al. (2020) | 4–6 sessions in 4 weeks: DN upper trapezius, middle trapezius, multifidus, splenius, and levator scapulae (LTR: Yes) + manual therapy (cervical and thoracic mobilization) and exercise |
4–6 sessions in 4 weeks: manual therapy (cervical and thoracic mobilization) and exercise |
↓ Pain |
| Gattie et al. (2021) | 7 sessions in 4 weeks: DN trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius capitis, semispinalis, spinalis capitis, multifidus, and suboccipital muscles (LTR: Yes) + manual therapy + exercise |
7 sessions in 4 weeks: sham DN + manual therapy + exercise |
There are no differences between DN and sham DN |
| Leon-Hernandez et al. (2021) | 2 sessions, 1 per week: DN upper trapezius (LTR: Yes) + 15 min of percutaneous needle electrical stimulation (low frequency versus high frequency) | ↓ Pain (There are no differences between DN modalities) |
|
| Stieven et al. (2021) | 1 session unilateral DN upper trapezius (LTR: Yes) | 1 session: myofascial release or sham DN |
↑ PPT ↓ Pain |
| Valiente-Castrillo et al. (2021) | 6 sessions in 2 weeks: DN upper trapezius, levator scapulae, splenius, and multifidus (LTR: Yes) + self-stretching + 3 sessions 30′ therapy education for one of the experimental groups |
10 sessions in 2 weeks: 15 min TENS and 15 min Microwave + self-stretching |
↓ Pain ↓ NDI ↓ Kinesiophobia ↓ Catastrophism ↓ Depression ↓ Anxiety ↓ Fear Pain ↑ Pain Attitudes |
Abbreviations. DN: Dry Needling; LTR: Local Twitch Response; PPT: Pressure Pain Threshold; ROM: Range of Motion; NDI: Neck Disability Index.