Neck pain remains one of the most common causes of disability, behind “low back pain, depression, and joint pain2.” In fact, a recent study published in Acupuncture in Medicine reported that “approximately 70% of the population will experience neck pain at least once in their life3.” Thus, it is important to note the ways in which neck pain can be treated. In addition to manual and physical therapy—such as neck massages, contraction-relaxation techniques, and specific exercises2,4—dry needling (DN) can also be used to mitigate neck pain. It may even, as some studies suggest, increase the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine4.
Dry needling “is a treatment that involves pushing a very thin needle through the skin to stimulate a trigger point4.” A trigger point, more commonly known as a “knot,” is the part of the muscle or connective tissue that may be causing neck pain4. Although dry needling has its roots in Chinese acupuncture, it became more widely known when it was introduced in the late 1970s, by the Czech physician Karl Lewit, and its popularity has only grown since then1. The theory behind dry needling is that “the needle may relax the tight muscle bands associated with trigger points4.”
Various studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of dry needling treatment on patients experiencing neck pain. For example, results from a 2014 study in the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy showed that patients who received dry needling treatment reported a pain reduction of 33% immediately after treatment, and a reduction of 66% a week later4. That same study further determined that “those patients treated with dry needling were better able to bend their heads forward and backward and to turn their heads toward the painful side of their neck4.” Research performed by Gallego et al., while supporting the idea that DN as a stand-alone method to treat neck pain is effective, concluded that dry needling combined with manual therapy “has positive effects on pain intensity, PPT (pressure pain threshold), cervical ROM (range of motion), and neck function2.” When the effects of dry needling were compared with those of Kinesiotaping (KT) in patients suffering from neck pain, in a study carried out by Onat et al., it was determined that dry needling treatment was indeed “effective on pain, mood, and quality of life,” but that “KT was found to be superior to DN in mechanical neck pain in terms of increasing ROM and decreasing disability5.” Additionally, “unlike previous studies, [Onat et al.] observed that DN had no effect on ROM5.”
Although there is evidence supporting the efficacy of dry needling for treating neck pain and improving range of motion of the cervical spine, there can be adverse effects. In the study by Onat et al., these can include “post needling soreness, hemorrhages at the needling site, syncopal responses, and acute cervical epidural hematomas5.” Additionally, Onat et al. go on to suggest that, even though their patients reported minor side-effects from DN, KT may be a better alternative, as it is a less invasive and painful procedure5.
Dry needling may help reduce pain and increase the range of motion of the cervical spine. Other treatments, such as physical and manual therapy, have also been proven to be successful. The results of such treatments, however, can vary from patient to patient. Therefore, it is best for patients to first speak with their doctor or physical therapist to decide if dry needling is the right treatment.
References
1. Firth, C., Meon, J., Price, M., Taylor, J., & Grace, S. (2020). Dry Needling: A literature Review. Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, 26(1), 22–28.
2. Gallego-Sendarrubias, G. M., Rodríguez-Sanz, D., Calvo-Lobo, C., & Martín, J. L. (n.d.). Efficacy of dry needling as an adjunct to manual therapy for patients with chronic mechanical neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Acupuncture in Medicine, 38(4), 244–254. https://doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2018-011682.
3. Martín-Rodríguez, A., Sáez-Olmo, E., Pecos-Martín, D., & Calvo-Lobo, C. (2019). Effects of dry needling in the sternocleidomastoid muscle on cervical motor control in patients with neck pain: a randomized clinical trial. Acupuncture in Medicine: Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, 37(3), 151–163. https://doi.org/10.1177/0964528419843913.
4. Neck pain: dry needling can decrease pain and increase motion. (2014). The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 44(4), 261. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2014.0502.
5. Onat, S. S., Polat, C. S., Bicer, S., Sahin, Z., & Tasoglu, O. (2019). Effect of Dry Needling Injection and Kinesiotaping on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Mechanical Neck Pain. Pain Physician, 22(6), 583–589.