Short-term effect of myofascial trigger point dry-needling in patients with Adhesive Capsulitis

Adhesive Capsulitis (AC) is a common disabling musculoskeletal pain condition of unknown etiology related to the shoulder joint. Literature reported the restricted range of motion (ROM) and pain could be the result of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the muscles of the shoulder girdle. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the short-term effectiveness of MTrP dry needling (DN) in improving ROM, pain, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and physical disability among patients having AC.

In a single group pre-post experimental study design, a total of 70 clinically diagnosed patients (both male & female, age group between 40 and 65 years) with AC were recruited from three multi-specialty hospitals. The informed consent forms were received from each patient before participating in the study. Each patient received DN for the MTrPs of shoulder girdle muscles for alternative six days. In addition to DN, each patient had received conventional physiotherapy for continuous twelve days which includes electrotherapy modalities and exercises. The pain intensity (visual analog scale), shoulder ROM (Goniometer), disability (shoulder pain and disability index) and PPT (Algometer) were the outcome measures assessed at the baseline and twelfth day of the intervention.

There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) improvement in shoulder ROM, pain intensity, shoulder disability, and PPT at the end of the twelve days of intervention as compared to baseline assessment.

MTrPs-DN techniques may improve the pain, ROM, disability and PPT along with conventional physiotherapy management among patients with AC.