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Current Pain and Headache Reports
Published in: Current Pain and Headache Reports 9/2013

01-09-2013 | Myofascial Pain (R Gerwin, Section Editor)

Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy: Laser Therapy and Dry Needling

Authors: Luciana Uemoto, Rosany Nascimento de Azevedo, Thays Almeida Alfaya, Renata Nunes Jardim Reis, Cresus Vinicius Depes de Gouvêa, Marco Antonio Cavalcanti Garcia

Published in: Current Pain and Headache Reports | Issue 9/2013

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Abstract

The aim of the present review is to discuss two forms of treatment for myofascial pain: laser therapy and dry needling. Although studies have reported the deactivation of myofascial trigger points with these two methods, clinical trials demonstrating their efficacy are scarce. The literature reports greater efficacy with the use of laser over dry needling. It has been suggested that improvements in microcirculation through the administration of laser therapy may favor the supply of oxygen to the cells under conditions of hypoxia and help remove the waste products of cell metabolism, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of pain, muscle spasm and further pain. While laser therapy is the method of choice for patients with a fear of needles and healthcare professionals inexperienced with the dry needling technique, further controlled studies are still needed to prove the greater efficacy of this method.
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Metadata
Title
Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy: Laser Therapy and Dry Needling
Authors
Luciana Uemoto
Rosany Nascimento de Azevedo
Thays Almeida Alfaya
Renata Nunes Jardim Reis
Cresus Vinicius Depes de Gouvêa
Marco Antonio Cavalcanti Garcia
Publication date
01-09-2013
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Pain and Headache Reports / Issue 9/2013
Print ISSN: 1531-3433
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3081
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-013-0357-4

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