A systematic review by Ugrejha and Prem published this year (2021) reviewed the effectiveness of dry needling techniques in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

9 moderate-quality randomised controlled trials that compared active myofascial trigger point dry needling techniques with control/sham/placebo treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis were reviewed. Each of the studies used a different intervention including combinations of dry needling, exercise, manual therapy, transcranial direct current stimulation and IMES.

The results were inconsistent across groups. One study in 2019 compared exercise with exercise and dry needling. There was no statistically significant difference in pain levels between the two groups however, 93.5% of patients in the exercise and dry needling group showed a minimum clinically important difference in pain post treatment that was retained at 6 months.

Given that only a small number of moderate-quality studies were included in this systematic review, the results should be extrapolated with consideration despite being in favour of dry needling as an adjunctive technique to relieve pain in knee osteoarthritis in the short-term. It is important to take an individualised approach to patients with knee osteoarthritis when it comes to the addition of adjunctive treatments. 

By Katherine Viti, student at Exercise Thought.

Reference:

Ughreja, R. A., & Prem, V. (2021). Effectiveness of dry needling techniques in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies. doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2021.02.015.