Dry needling is not necessarily acupuncture, but the technique does use acupuncture needles. Typically, an acupuncture needle is inserted into a myofascial trigger point. In an article published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the authors found that dry needling therapy in trigger points of the hip muscles reduced pain and improved hip muscle strength and physical function in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Furthermore, they stated that dry needling in trigger points of the hip muscles should be considered for the management of hip arthritis. ~ Dr. Broussard
Effectiveness of Dry Needling Therapy on Pain, Hip Muscle Strength, and Physical Function in Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
VOLUME 102, ISSUE 5, P959-966, MAY 01, 2021
Abstract
Objective
To investigate the short-term effects of dry needling (DN) on physical function, pain, and hip muscle strength in patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA).
Design
A double-blind, placebo-control, randomized controlled trial.
Setting
Private practice physiotherapy clinic.
Participants
Patients with unilateral hip OA (N=45) were randomly allocated to a DN group, sham DN group, or control group.
Interventions
Patients in the DN and sham groups received 3 treatment sessions. Three active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) were treated in each session with DN or a sham needle procedure. The treatment was applied in active MTrPs of the iliopsoas, rectus femoris, tensor fasciae latae, and gluteus minimus muscles.
Main Outcome Measures
Physical function was assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) physical function subscale, the timed Up and Go test, and the 40-meter self-paced walk test. Intensity of hip pain related to physical function was evaluated using the visual analog scale and WOMAC pain subscale. The maximal isometric force of hip muscles was recorded with a handheld dynamometer.
Results
Significant group by time interactions were shown for physical function, pain, and hip muscle force variables. Post hoc tests revealed a significant reduction in hip pain and significant improvements in physical function and hip muscle strength in the DN group compared with the sham and control groups. The DN group showed within- and between-groups large effect sizes (d>0.8).
Conclusions
DN therapy in active MTrPs of the hip muscles reduced pain and improved hip muscle strength and physical function in patients with hip OA. DN in active MTrPs of the hip muscles should be considered for the management of hip OA.