Retrospective Dry Needling data

Abstract:

Background: Recovery from hamstring injuries in athletes can take months and may be complicated by recurrence. Traditional rehabilitation approaches may not fully alleviate hamstring pain and dysfunction. Dry needling, a minimally invasive therapy targeting myofascial trigger points, has shown promise in musculoskeletal injury and recovery, though its specific impact on hamstring injuries remains underexplored.

Hypothesis/Purpose: To determine the impact of dry needling on patient-reported outcomes and return to sport in athletes with hamstring injuries.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study

Methods: Participants were patients who underwent dry needling for a hamstring injury in an academic outpatient sports medicine clinic between 2010 to 2023. Potential participants were identified through an electronic health record query for the term “dry needling”. Demographic details, diagnosis, management, and patient-reported outcomes were abstracted. Chi-square and t-tests were performed to assess for differences in clinical outcomes between groups.

Results: There were 49 patients in our cohort, with a mean age of 32.5 ± 16.95 years. More than half (51%) identified as women and 81% were white. Most of the cohort identified as a runner (59.2%). The most common chief complaint was unilateral leg pain (87.8%), and 30.6% of injuries were trauma-induced. The most common previously utilized treatment modalities included physical therapy (67.4%), thermal/cryotherapy (57.1%), and over-the-counter oral medication (51.0%). Baseline Visual Analog Scale (VAS) regardless of proximity to treatment was 2.88 ± 2.26. Average VAS after receiving the first dry needling therapy session was 2.40 ± 2.14. Based on patient self-report, dry needling benefited 69.4% and 59.2% resumed activities post-treatment.

Conclusions: Dry needling may improve symptoms and facilitate return to sport for athletes with hamstring injuries. Future prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings.