Ultrasound Evidence of Trigger Point Size Reduction in the Trapezius Following Dry Needling Acupuncture

A Retrospective Study

In 2024, Dr. Jordan Barber and colleagues published a study in the Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine (Volume 10, Article 537) that looked at whether dry needling acupuncture could shrink tight muscle spots (called trigger points) in the trapezius muscle, which runs along the neck and shoulders. Using ultrasound, they measured the size of these trigger points before and after treatment. The study found that the trigger points got a bit smaller after treatment, suggesting dry needling might help reduce muscle tightness. The study found that the trigger points got a bit smaller after treatment, suggesting dry needling might help reduce muscle tightness, and these findings support the need for further research to build on these promising results.

Link the the Journal Article: Open Access

Citation: Barber J, Messina D, Bhatt AM, Deutsch J (2024) Ultrasound Evidence of Trigger Point Size Reduction in the Trapezius Following Dry Needling Acupuncture: A Retrospective Study. J Altern Complement Integr Med 10: 537.