Dry Needling and Exercises in Shoulder Pain

Effectiveness of Dry Needling and Eccentric Exercises in Unspecific Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is highly prevalent in the society. The role of muscle tissues in this pathology has received increasing interest. Some studies have proposed the role of myofascial trigger points in this population. The purpose of the current clinical trial is to compare the effects of physiotherapy treatment consisting of an eccentric exercise protocol versus the same physical therapy program plus the addition of trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) on pain and function in patients suffering from unspecific shoulder pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Unilateral non-traumatic shoulder pain
• Shoulder pain from at least 3 months
• Shoulder pain of more than 4 points on a NPRS

Exclusion Criteria:

• bilateral shoulder symptoms
• younger than 18 or older than 65 years
• history of shoulder fractures or dislocation
• cervical radiculopathy
• previous interventions with steroid injections
• fibromyalgia syndrome
• previous history of shoulder or neck surgery
• any type of intervention for the neck-shoulder area during the previous year