Investigating the Effectiveness of Dry Needling on the Outcomes of Spasticity, Range of Motion, Function, Dynamic, and Static Balance in People with Stroke

Abstract

Purpose: This clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of dry needling on the outcomes of spasticity, range of motion, function, and dynamic, and static balance in people with stroke

Materials and Methods: Twenty-one people with stroke participated in this clinical trial and were randomly assigned to one of two groups real dry needling (intervention group) and sham needling (control group). Subjects of the intervention group received one of dry needling treatment in the gastrocnemius, soleus, and posterior tibialis muscles. Needling was performed conically and for one minute in a fast in-fast out way in the muscles. The study outcomes included spasticity, active and passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, dynamic, function, and static balance. Outcomes were measured four times before the intervention, immediately after needling, one week later, and one month later. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the results. The effectiveness of the intervention was calculated using Cohen's D effect size.

Results: The results revealed that the degree of spasticity in the group that received real dry needling for lower limb muscles was significantly reduced immediately after treatment and one week later compared to before treatment.  However, dry needling immediately after the intervention led to an increase in active and passive ankle range of motion. No significant difference was observed between the real dry needling and sham groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in improving the overall condition based on the Brunnstrom Recovery Scale.

Conclusion: The results suggest that real dry needling is effective in reducing spasticity, increasing the active and passive ankle dorsiflexion range, and improving dynamic balance in the short-term intervention.