Systematic Review Confirms Trigger Point Dry Needling Effectiveness for Musculoskeletal Pain (jospt.org)

• Moderate-to-strong evidence supports dry needling for pain and function in musculoskeletal conditions.
• Effects are superior to sham and comparable to other active treatments with exercise.
• Adverse events are mild and transient; integration into practice is recommended.

"A systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions found moderate-to-strong evidence for pain reduction and functional improvement in conditions such as neck pain, shoulder pain, and low back pain. The review included 15 trials with low risk of bias. Dry needling was superior to sham needling and comparable to other active treatments when combined with exercise. The findings support the integration of dry needling into clinical practice for myofascial pain syndrome."