Comparison of the effectiveness of dry needling and laser therapy applied to trigger points in myofascial pain syndrome in the trapezius muscle

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of dry needling and laser therapy applied to the trigger points in patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the trapezius muscle on pain, functionality, quality of life, anxiety and depression. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 60 patients, 40 female and 20 male, aged between 19 and 64 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, each consisting of 30 people, with the closed envelope method. In the first group, dry needling treatment was applied on trigger points for 2 weeks, 2 sessions per week, and 4 sessions in total. The second group received low level laser therapy of 830 nm wavelength, 8 J / cm2 dosage, 9000 hz frequency on trigger points for 2 weeks, 5 sessions per week, 10 sessions in total for 3 minutes and 20 seconds in each session, in 20 second periods. Stretching exercises were added to the treatment of both groups for 2 weeks. Patients included in the study were evaluated twice, before and after treatment. In the evaluation, during rest and activity visual analogue scale (VAS), painful trigger point number, 0-5 scale and neck disability index (NDI) for pain and functionality, short form 36 (SF-36) for quality of life, Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) for the anxiety and depression were used. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics and duration of complaints (p>0,05). In intra-group comparisons, in both groups, statistically significant improvement was observed in the scores of VAS (rest and activity), painful trigger point number, 0-5 scale, NDI, BDI, BAI and physical functioning, physical role limitations, vitality and pain subscales of SF-36 after treatment (p<0,05). After treatment, statistically significant improvement was observed only in the dry needling group in the scores of the emotional role limitations, social functioning and general health subscales of SF-36 (p<0,05). No significant difference was found in the scores of mental health subscale of SF-36 after treatment in both groups (p>0,05). In the comparisons between groups, the changes between the scores of VAS (rest and activity), NDI and physical role limitations, social functioning and general health subscales of SF-36 before and after treatment were found to be statistically significantly higher in the dry needling group than in the laser group (p<0,05). CONCLUSION: Although dry needling and laser treatments applied together with stretching exercises in myofascial pain syndrome in trapezius muscle were found to be effective, it was seen that the effectiveness of dry needling therapy was higher. Low level laser therapy remains a good option when the patient or physician does not prefer dry needling therapy.