LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY VERSUS DRY NEEDLING FOR INACTIVATION OF MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINTS

Authors

1 B.D.S. 2005, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University

2 Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University

3 Ass. Prof. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University.

4 Ass. Prof of Dental Laser Application, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), Cairo University

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare two forms of treatment for inactivation of MTrPs: laser therapy and dry needling. This study included 17 females and 1 male patients with active myofascial trigger points of masseter muscle of ages ranged from 18 to 42 years with an average of 30 years divided into 2 equal groups, in the 1st group the MTrPs received application of low level laser (diode laser of wavelength 980 nanometers, power 0.2 watt, total energy 12 joule and exposure time 50 seconds) while in the 2nd group the MTrPs underwent dry needling. Both groups underwent 3 treatment sessions a week for 4 weeks; each session took 50 seconds and were assessed for the pain intensity at rest, on function and on palpation [PP] measured by NRS and the painless MMO. All were measured prior to the treatment, at the end of 2- weeks (mid-treatment), at the end of 4- weeks (end of treatment), and monthly after completion of treatment for 3months. The results of the present study demonstrated that all evaluated parameters showed insignificant differences between both groups throughout the study intervals. However, laser group showed statistically significantly higher mean % decrease in pain scores at rest at the end of treatment than dry needling group. While at the end of the study, dry needling group showed statistically significantly higher mean % decrease in pain scores on function than Laser group. At the end of treatment, laser group showed statistically significant analgesic effect of LLLT. With the exception of statistically significant decrease in mean PP scores, dry needling group showed insignificant decrease in pain intensity at the end of treatment. There was no statistically significant change in mean MMO through all periods in both groups. By the end of the study, all the evaluated parameters showed insignificant difference relative to the baseline with the exception of the significant decrease in mean PP scores in dry needling group.

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