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Effectiveness of dry needling for headache: A systematic review
D Vázquez-Justes1, R Yarzábal-Rodríguez2, V Doménech-García3
1Departamento de Neurología, Hospital Universitari Arnau Vilanova, Lleida, Spain.
Neurologia
|June 6, 2022
Summary
Dry needling (DN) offers a safe and cost-effective non-pharmacological approach for headache management. This review found DN effective, showing significant improvements in patient outcomes when used alone or with other treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Physical Therapy
- Pain Management
Background:
- Headache treatments often involve pharmacological interventions with potential side effects.
- Non-pharmacological options like dry needling (DN) present a lower-risk alternative.
- Evaluating the evidence for DN in headache treatment is crucial for clinical practice.
Approach:
- A systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was conducted.
- Searches were performed across major databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PEDro.
- Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the PEDro scale.
Key Points:
- Eight RCTs involving 577 patients were included, focusing on cervicogenic, tension-type, migraine, and mixed-type headaches.
- Study quality varied from low to high.
- Dry needling demonstrated effectiveness comparable to other interventions, yielding significant functional and sensory improvements.
Conclusions:
- Dry needling is a viable treatment option for various headache types.
- It can be utilized as a standalone therapy or as an adjunct to pharmacological treatments.
- Further research may explore optimal protocols for dry needling in headache management.
