Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of dry needling (DN) on the biomechanical properties of a latent medial myofascial trigger point (MTrP) of the soleus muscle compared with an adjacent point within the taut band (TB) measured by myotonometry.

Methods: Fifty asymptomatic volunteers were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 26) or control group (n = 24). One session of DN was performed in every group as follows: 10 needle insertions into the MTrP area (intervention group) or TB area (control group). Myotonometric measurements (frequency, decrement, and stiffness) were performed at baseline (pre-intervention) and after the intervention (post-intervention) in both locations (MTrP and TB areas).

Results: The results showed that stiffness outcome significantly decreased with a large effect size after DN in the MTrP when measured in the MTrP location (P = .002; d = 0.928) but not when measured in the TB location. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in any location when the TB was needled (P > .05).

Conclusions: The findings suggest that only DN into the MTrP area was effective in decreasing stiffness outcome, therefore a specific puncture was needed to modify myofascial muscle stiffness.

Author keywords: Trigger Points; Dry Needling; Muscle Tonus

Author affiliations: CJS, PHG, MOL: iPhysio Research Group, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain; JGS, DSM: Toledo Physiotherapy Research Group, Facultad de Fisioterapia de Toledo, Universidad Castilla La Mancha, Toledo, Castilla La Mancha, Spain; Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Castilla La Mancha, Spain; EBE: Toledo Physiotherapy Research Group, Facultad de Fisioterapia de Toledo, Universidad Castilla La Mancha, Toledo, Castilla La Mancha, Spain; OMDM: Physical Therapy Unit, Hospital Provincial, Toledo, Spain
Corresponding author: Julio Gómez-Soriano—Julio.Soriano@uclm.es

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