Investigation of the efficacy of dry needling added to physical therapy in supraspinatus tendinopathy

Abstract

Objectives In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dry needling (DN) in addition to conventional physical therapy and rehabilitation (PTR) program in patients with supraspinatus tendinopathy presenting with shoulder pain. Patients and Methods Our study was designed as a single-center, prospective, observational study. Between November 2023 and January 2024, 64 patients diagnosed with supraspinatus tendinopathy were included in our study. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1, in which DN and conventional PTR program were applied together, and group 2, in which only conventional PTR program was applied. Primary endpoint of our study was shoulder pain [visual analog scale (VAS)] and secondary outcome measurements were shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), passive shoulder range of motion (ROM), handgrip (HG) strength, Tampa kinesiophobia scale (TKS), supraspinatus tendon and muscle thickness. These parameters were evaluated at the beginning, 1st and 3rd months. Independent sample t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test were used to compare quantitative data. Two-way ANOVA test was used for repeated measurements of the participants. Results Significant improvements were observed over time in both treatment groups in pain level, ROM, functional capacity, and other parameters. Patients in group 1 had a statistically significant increase in passive shoulder ROM, muscle thickness and tendon thickness in patients with partial tear at 3 months compared to pre-treatment (all p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in VAS scores, SPADI scores, and TKS scores in favor of group 1 (all p<0.05). There was a statistically significant increase in HG strength scores at 3rd month in favor of group 1 compared to 1st month (p=0.029). There was also a statistically significant increase in supraspinatus tendon thickness in partial tear patients in group 1 (p<0.001). Conclusion We think that the addition of DN to the conventional PTR program in treatment of patients with supraspinatus tendinopathy is beneficial in terms of both pain and functionality until the 3rd month after treatment.