Adverse events following trigger point dry needling: a prospective survey of chartered physiotherapists
Open Access
- 6 December 2013
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy
- Vol. 22 (3), 134-140
- https://doi.org/10.1179/2042618613y.0000000044
Abstract
Trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) is commonly used to treat persons with myofascial pain, but no studies currently exist investigating its safety. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of Adverse Events (AEs) associated with the use of TrP-DN by a sample of physiotherapists in Ireland. A prospective survey was undertaken consisting of two forms recording mild and significant AEs. Physiotherapists who had completed TrP-DN training with the David G Simons Academy (DGSA) were eligible to take part in the study. Data were collected over a ten-month period. In the study, 39 physiotherapists participated and 1463 (19.18%) mild AEs were reported in 7629 treatments with TrP-DN. No significant AEs were reported giving an estimated upper risk rate for significant AEs of less than or equal to (≤) 0.04%. Common AEs included bruising (7.55%), bleeding (4.65%), pain during treatment (3.01%), and pain after treatment (2.19%). Uncommon AEs were aggravation of symptoms (0.88%), drowsiness (0.26%), headache (0.14%), and nausea (0.13%). Rare AEs were fatigue (0.04%), altered emotions (0.04%), shaking, itching, claustrophobia, and numbness, all 0.01%. While mild AEs were very commonly reported in this study of TrP-DN, no significant AEs occurred. For the physiotherapists surveyed, TrP-DN appeared to be a safe treatment.Keywords
This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Neuromuscular Damage and Repair after Dry Needling in MiceEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013
- Dry Needling at Myofascial Trigger Spots of Rabbit Skeletal Muscles Modulates the Biochemicals Associated with Pain, Inflammation, and HypoxiaEvidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
- The effect of dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trialClinical Rheumatology, 2012
- Effects of Trigger Point Acupuncture Treatment on Temporomandibular Disorders: A Preliminary Randomized Clinical TrialJournal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies, 2012
- Treatment of temporomandibular myofascial pain with deep dry needlingMedicina Oral Patología Oral y Cirugia Bucal, 2012
- Dry needling — peripheral and central considerationsJournal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 2011
- Treatment of myofascial trigger points in patients with chronic shoulder pain: a randomized, controlled trialBMC Medicine, 2011
- Adverse Symptom Event Reporting by Patients vs Clinicians: Relationships With Clinical OutcomesJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2009
- Randomised trial of trigger point acupuncture compared with other acupuncture for treatment of chronic neck painComplementary Therapies in Medicine, 2007
- Incidence of adverse effects during acupuncture therapy—a multicentre surveyComplementary Therapies in Medicine, 2003