Trigger Point Dry Needling and Proprioceptive Exercises for the Management of Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract EN

Objective.

To compare the effects of combined trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) and proprioceptive/strengthening exercises to proprioceptive/strengthening exercises on pain and function in ankle instability.

Methods.

Twenty-seven (44% female, mean age: 33 ± 3 years) individuals with unilateral ankle instability were randomly assigned to an experimental group who received proprioceptive/strengthening exercises combined with TrP-DN into the lateral peroneus muscle and a comparison group receiving the same proprioceptive/strengthening exercise program alone.

Outcome included function assessed with the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and ankle pain intensity assessed with a numerical pain rate scale (NPRS).

They were captured at baseline and 1-month follow-up after the intervention.

Results.

The ANOVAs found significant Group ∗ Time Interactions for both subscales of the FAAM (ADL: F = 8.211 ; P = 0 .

008 ; SPORTS: F = 13.943 ; P < 0 .

001 ) and for pain ( F = 44.420 ; P < 0 .

001 ): patients receiving TrP-DN plus proprioceptive/strengthening exercises experienced greater improvements in function and pain than those receiving the exercise program alone.

Between-groups effect sizes were large in all outcomes (SMD > 2.1) in favor of the TrP-DN group.

Conclusions.

This study provides evidence that the inclusion of TrP-DN within the lateral peroneus muscle into a proprioceptive/strengthening exercise program resulted in better outcomes in pain and function 1 month after the therapy in ankle instability.