Effects of Forearm Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling on Pain and Function of Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

To evaluate the effects of dry needling (DN) on pain and function in patients with concurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and forearm muscles myofascial trigger point (MTrP).

This randomized controlled trial evaluated fifty affected hands with the clinical and electrodiagnostic diagnosis of mild and moderate CTS with the presence of MTrP in their forearm muscles. Patients were randomized to intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, one session forearm MTrP DN was performed in addition to wrist splint. Then, pain and function were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) at the baseline, one week, and six weeks after the intervention in both groups. The outcomes in this study were pain reduction (VAS) and improvement in hand function (BCTQ).

The co-occurrence of mild and moderate CTS with forearm muscle MTrP was observed in 61% of cases. In addition, improvement in pain severity, VAS, a mean difference of 1.44 (with a 95% CI of 0.96, 1.92, P < 0.001), the BCTQ total score, and a mean difference of 0.21 (with a 95% CI of 0.10, 0.32, P < 0.001) were observed in the DN group compared with the control group at one-week follow-up.

In general, forearm MTrP should be considered when examining patients with CTS since MTrP therapy in patients with CTS can enhance the effectiveness of physical therapy on symptom improvement in short terms