Comparison of acute effects of superficial and deep dry needling into trigger points of suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles in patients with cervicogenic headache

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of superficial and deep dry needling into trigger points of suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles in patients with cervicogenic headache.

Methods: Thirty participants (8 men, 22 women) aged 19-60 years (mean age ± SD, 39 ± 10 y) with a clinical diagnosis of cervicogenic headache were randomly divided into superficial and deep groups. Headache index, trigger points tenderness, cervical range of motion (CROM), functional rating index was assessed at baseline, immediate and 1 week after the treatment.

Results: Two approaches of dry needling showed reduction in headache index and trigger points tenderness. Deep dry needling showed greater improvement of cervical range of motion (p < 0.001) and functional rating index (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: The application of dry needling into trigger points of suboccipital and upper trapezius muscles induces significant improvement of headache index, trigger points tenderness, functional rating index and range of motion in patients with cervicogenic headache. Deep dry needling had greater effects on CROM and function.

Keywords: Cervicogenic headache; Dry needling; Trigger point.