Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dry needling on the blood
flow and oxygen saturation of the trapezius muscle.
Methods
Twenty healthy participants participated in this study. One single dry needling procedure
was performed in the right upper trapezius, at a point located midway between the
acromion edge and the seventh cervical vertebrae. Using the oxygen to see device,
blood flow and oxygen saturation were evaluated at the treated point and 3 distant
points (similar point in the left upper trapezius and 30 mm laterally from this midpoint).
Measurements were taken at baseline and in the recovery period (0, 5, and 15 minutes
posttreatment).
Results
After removal of the needle, the blood flow and oxygen saturation increased significantly
from the pretreatment level in the treated point (P ≤ .001), and these values remained high throughout the 15-minute recovery period.
There were only minor changes in the distant points.
Conclusions
These results suggest that dry needling enhances the blood flow in the stimulated
region of the trapezius muscle but not in a distant region used in this study.
Key Indexing Terms
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 17,
2012
Received in revised form:
August 24,
2012
Received:
June 26,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
