At the end of the last lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) post, we alluded to trigger-point dry needling (TDN) being an effective treatment technique for the resolution of tennis elbow. As mentioned before, tennis elbow is not restricted to tennis players, but affects a wide variety of athletes and professions, and is characterized by point tenderness on the outside aspect of your elbow, especially with repetitive motions, as well as pain extending down the back and outside of the forearm.
A recent study, published in the Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research, investigated the efficacy of TDN on tennis elbow.1 Fourteen patients with lateral epicondylitis and myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) were divided into a control group – had routine physical therapy – or the treatment group – routine physical therapy plus TDN. They measured baseline pain pressure thresholds, grip strength, and pain intensity on affected forearm extensors. At the conclusion of the study, pain in the patient’s forearm extensor musculature decreased significantly in both the control and treatment groups, however the treatment group also saw a significant improvement in their pain-pressure threshold and their grip strength compared to the group that did not receive TDN. Treated muscles could include infraspintus, supraspinatus, subscapularis (all three are part of the rotator cuff), as well as the scalene muscles (span from the cervical spine to the first and second ribs).
References
- Kheradmandi, A., Ebrahimian, M., Ghafarinejad, F., Ehyaii, V., & Farazdaghi, M. (2016). The Effect of Dry Needling of the Trigger Points of Shoulder Muscles on Pain and Grip Strength in Patients with Lateral Epicondylitis: A Pilot Study. Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research, 2(3), 58-62.
