OBJECTIVES: To compare a mechanical heterogeneity index derived from ultrasound vibration elastography with physical findings before and after dry-needling treatment of spontaneously @entity158 active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. METHODS: Forty-eight @entity1 with chronic @entity158 enrolled in a prospective interventional trial of 3 weekly dry-needling treatments for active myofascial trigger points. Trigger points were evaluated at baseline and at treatment completion using palpation, the pressure-pain threshold, and the mechanical heterogeneity index. Thirty @entity1 were reevaluated at 8 weeks. Trigger points that "responded" changed to tissue that was no longer spontaneously @entity158 , with or without the presence of a palpable @entity9384 . Trigger points that "resolved" changed to tissue without a palpable @entity9384 . The mechanical heterogeneity index was defined as the proportion of the upper trapezius muscle that appeared mechanically stiffer on elastography. Statistical significance for comparisons was determined at P < .05. RESULTS: Following 3 dry needle treatments, the mechanical heterogeneity index decreased significantly for the 38 myofascial trigger points (79% of 48) that responded to treatment. Among these, the baseline mechanical heterogeneity index was significantly lower for the 13 trigger points (27% of 38) that resolved, but the decrease after 3 dry needle treatments did not reach significance. The pressure-pain threshold improved significantly for both groups. At 8 weeks, the mechanical heterogeneity index decreased significantly for the 22 trigger points (73% of 30) that responded and for the 10 (45% of 22) that resolved. The pressure-pain threshold improvement was significant for trigger points that responded but did not reach significance for resolved trigger points. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical heterogeneity index identifies changes in muscle tissue properties that correlate with changes in the myofascial trigger point status after dry needling.

Novel Use of Ultrasound Elastography to Quantify Muscle Tissue Changes After Dry Needling of Myofascial Trigger Points in XXXX With Chronic Myofascial Pain.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity9384 :: ('MESH:D016606', 'Disease') :: ['nodule'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['myofascial pain', 'painful']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['Patients']
