Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review

Aim: The aim of this study is to review the effectiveness of dry needling in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from its inception until July 2023 and the reference list...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ali Mutlu, Mehmet Hanifi Kaya, Öznur Büyükturan, Buket Büyükturan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Open Exploration Publishing Inc. 2023-12-01
Series:Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ent/Article/100463
_version_ 1827393431249354752
author Ali Mutlu
Mehmet Hanifi Kaya
Öznur Büyükturan
Buket Büyükturan
author_facet Ali Mutlu
Mehmet Hanifi Kaya
Öznur Büyükturan
Buket Büyükturan
author_sort Ali Mutlu
collection DOAJ
description Aim: The aim of this study is to review the effectiveness of dry needling in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from its inception until July 2023 and the reference lists of the articles obtained were manually searched. Studies examining the effectiveness of dry needling treatment alone or in combination with a different protocol in individuals diagnosed with MS, regardless of type, were included. The systematic review included quasi-experimental studies and case reports. Studies involving traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture applications, conference abstracts, and protocol records were excluded. Methodological quality assessments were carried out independently by two authors using tools developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Results: A total of 130 studies were found in the searches. Some studies were excluded due to duplication, protocol registration, conference abstract, and content outside the scope of the study and 7 studies were included in the review. In total, 33 individuals were included in this review, 22 of whom were women. Four studies specified the MS type of the patients, while the other studies did not specify MS type. Conclusions: Despite some limitations, this is, to our knowledge, the first review summarizing studies evaluating the effectiveness of dry needling in MS patients. The dry needling technique alone or in a combination of treatments was effective in improving pain, spasticity, range of motion, dexterity, mobility, limb function, and quality of life in MS patients. However, these results should be treated with caution due to the small number of included studies and the lack of randomized controlled trials. Although it is too early to talk about the positive effects of the dry needling technique in MS patients, the study results are promising. More randomized controlled trials should be conducted on this topic.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T17:49:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-40b15e72dd66453ba6b107f36972b059
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2769-6510
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T17:49:55Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher Open Exploration Publishing Inc.
record_format Article
series Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy
spelling doaj.art-40b15e72dd66453ba6b107f36972b0592024-01-02T09:00:47ZengOpen Exploration Publishing Inc.Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy2769-65102023-12-013647048010.37349/ent.2023.00063Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic reviewAli Mutlu0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9182-394XMehmet Hanifi Kaya1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4670-4794Öznur Büyükturan2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1163-9972Buket Büyükturan3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5898-1698Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tarsus University, Mersin 33400, TürkiyeFaculty of Medicine, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir 40100, TürkiyeDepartment of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir 40100, TürkiyeDepartment of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir 40100, TürkiyeAim: The aim of this study is to review the effectiveness of dry needling in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from its inception until July 2023 and the reference lists of the articles obtained were manually searched. Studies examining the effectiveness of dry needling treatment alone or in combination with a different protocol in individuals diagnosed with MS, regardless of type, were included. The systematic review included quasi-experimental studies and case reports. Studies involving traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture applications, conference abstracts, and protocol records were excluded. Methodological quality assessments were carried out independently by two authors using tools developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Results: A total of 130 studies were found in the searches. Some studies were excluded due to duplication, protocol registration, conference abstract, and content outside the scope of the study and 7 studies were included in the review. In total, 33 individuals were included in this review, 22 of whom were women. Four studies specified the MS type of the patients, while the other studies did not specify MS type. Conclusions: Despite some limitations, this is, to our knowledge, the first review summarizing studies evaluating the effectiveness of dry needling in MS patients. The dry needling technique alone or in a combination of treatments was effective in improving pain, spasticity, range of motion, dexterity, mobility, limb function, and quality of life in MS patients. However, these results should be treated with caution due to the small number of included studies and the lack of randomized controlled trials. Although it is too early to talk about the positive effects of the dry needling technique in MS patients, the study results are promising. More randomized controlled trials should be conducted on this topic.https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ent/Article/100463dry needlingmobilitymultiple sclerosispainspasticityquality of life
spellingShingle Ali Mutlu
Mehmet Hanifi Kaya
Öznur Büyükturan
Buket Büyükturan
Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review
Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy
dry needling
mobility
multiple sclerosis
pain
spasticity
quality of life
title Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review
title_full Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review
title_fullStr Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review
title_short Effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis: systematic review
title_sort effectiveness of dry needling on the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis systematic review
topic dry needling
mobility
multiple sclerosis
pain
spasticity
quality of life
url https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ent/Article/100463
work_keys_str_mv AT alimutlu effectivenessofdryneedlingonthetreatmentofpatientswithmultiplesclerosissystematicreview
AT mehmethanifikaya effectivenessofdryneedlingonthetreatmentofpatientswithmultiplesclerosissystematicreview
AT oznurbuyukturan effectivenessofdryneedlingonthetreatmentofpatientswithmultiplesclerosissystematicreview
AT buketbuyukturan effectivenessofdryneedlingonthetreatmentofpatientswithmultiplesclerosissystematicreview