Ação do agulhamento seco (Dry Needling) na dor miofascial

Abstract

Myofascial pain is the most frequent cause of masticatory pain and functional limitation. It originates in the musculature, in localized tension points, known as trigger points (TP). Dry needling is a form of treatment based on the use of solid filiform needles, similar to those used in acupuncture, in order to deactivate tension nodules. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain through research developed at the Dentistry Department of the Federal University of Sergipe. The selected patients underwent both a questionnaire based on the RDC/TMD and a physical palpation examination. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to obtain the levels of pain symptoms existing at the time of the consultation before and after the conclusion of each session, as well as the value of the daily pain presented by the patients, before the beginning of the therapy and one week after its completion. Needling was performed at six acupuncture points in the facial region for 3 weeks (1 session per week). The results obtained were submitted to appropriate statistical analysis that adopted a significance value for P<0.05. It was verified that in the comparison between the sessions, the second session obtained a value of p<0.05, in addition, during the therapy, there was a reduction in the level of pain from one session to another. Comparing the pain levels before the patients were submitted to the first therapy session with the pain levels after the completion of the 3 sessions, a value of p<0.05 was obtained, that is, there was a reduction in the level of pain. Also, 25% of patients reported pain level 0 based on VAS. It is concluded that dry needling therapy was effective in the present study.