Intensive vasodilatation in the sciatic pain area after dry needling

Area of Science:

• Pain Medicine
• Neurology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Sciatica patients may have active trigger points (TrPs) secondary to primary lesions.
• Vasodilation in the pain area after dry needling (DN) of active TrPs has been observed.
• The prevalence and vasomotor response of TrPs in sciatica remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of active TrPs in subacute sciatica patients.
• To assess the vasomotor response to DN in these patients using infrared thermovision (IRT).

Main Methods:

• Fifty subacute sciatica patients were assessed for gluteus minimus TrPs.
• Patients were grouped into TrPs-positive and TrPs-negative based on diagnosis.
• DN was performed under IRT control, measuring skin temperature and vasomotor reactions.

Main Results:

• Active TrPs were found in 32% of patients.
• TrPs-positive patients showed significant vasodilatation (12.3% post-DN, 22.1% post-observation) compared to TrPs-negative (0.4%).
• A significant temperature increase was observed in the thigh and calf of TrPs-positive subjects.

Conclusions:

• Active TrPs in the gluteus minimus muscle are present in subacute sciatica.
• DN-induced vasodilatation occurred in all TrPs-positive sciatica patients.
• Vasodilatation suggests sympathetic nerve activity in myofascial pain; further research is needed.