Analgesic Effects of Dry Needling and Active Release on Upper Trapezius Muscles in Neck Pain Patients.

ABSTRACT Objectives: To establish the best possible effective choice of treatment program for MTrPs by using the combination of DN with ART. Intervention: The experimental group A received Dry needling alone, experimental group B received Active Release Technique alone, The experimental group C received DN in combination with ART and whereas control group (D) received conventional treatment only. Main outcome measures: Pain or pain intensity was assessed by using VAS scale, Range of motion was assessed with goniometer and the functional status of patients by Neck Disability Index score. Results: Within group analysis revealed significant improvement in Pain, ROM and NDI in all groups. Between group analysis revealed significant difference between Group A, B, C and D for all variables even after alternative days of 1 week. Conclusion: The combination of DN with ART has been shown to produce greater improvement in ROM, functional status on neck disability index scores and reduction in pain intensity on visual analogue scores even after alternative days of 1 week. This shows the long term effectiveness of combination of two techniques. This study may provide a rationale for the clinical use of these two techniques in deactivating the myofascial trigger point’s pain.