Comparative Effectivenesss of Dry Needling and Deep Friction Massage in Myofascial Pain Syndrome: an Original Research

Abstract

Introduction. Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a common condition that limits mobility and causes chronic pain. While myofascial trigger points are recognized as key contributors, the most effective treatments remain debated. Dry Needling (DN) and Deep Friction Massage (DFM) are commonly used, but direct comparisons of their effectiveness in pain reduction, range of motion (ROM) improvement, and trigger point size changes are scarce. Research often assesses these treatments separately, leaving a gap in understanding their comparative efficacy. Aim. To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of DN and DFM on MPS. Materials and methods. Thirty-six participants were divided into DN and DFM groups. Evaluations were conducted before and 30 minutes after treatment, assessing pain levels with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Range of Motion (ROM) with a goniometer, and trigger point size using ultrasonography. Results and discussion. Both groups exhibited significant reductions in pain levels (p 0.05). The DFM group demonstrated more substantial delta change in pain reduction (31.81 ± 7.6) compared to the DN group (18.19 ± 8.8). Both groups showed significant improvements in ROM (p 0.05), with DFM having a greater impact on flexion, extension, and lateral flexion. No significant difference was observed in rotational movements between the two groups. Regarding trigger point size, only the DFM group showed significant changes (p 0.05); however, the delta change between DN (0.38 ± 0.5) and DFM (0.35 ± 0.3) were not statistically significant (p 0.05). Conclusion. Both DN and DFM effectively reduce pain and increase ROM, although neither of them significantly changed trigger point size. DFM provided better results in pain reduction 30 minutes post-treatment compared to DN.

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