IJPR.2021.186

Type of Article:  Review

Volume 9; Issue 5 (October 2021)

Page No.: 4035-4039

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijpr.2021.186

The effectiveness of dry needling on hamstring flexibility: A systematic review

Day, James *, Kasuske, Kyla.

Department of Exercise Science and Sport Sciences Augustana University.

Address for Correspondence: Day, James, Master of Science in Athletic Training Program Augustana University 2001 S Summit Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57197. E-Mail: james.day@augie.edu

ABSTRACT

Background: Hamstring injuries are a common problem for athletes, and hamstring tightness has been found to be a contributing factor to these injuries. Dry needling is a growing trend that poses the possibility of increasing flexibility through several mechanisms; however, there is currently no review on all of the studies done concerning the effectiveness of dry needling for improving hamstring flexibility. 

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of dry needling on hamstring flexibility in people with hamstring tightness.

Methods: Search terms included dry needling or intramuscular stimulation, flexibility or range of motion or ROM, and hamstring. The databases searched were PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL.)

Results: Ten articles were found from the initial search, and three remained after the removal of duplicates and screening the articles for abstracts and full text. Patients consisted of relatively young individuals with hamstring tightness. All studies used a stretching group for the comparison while interventions consisted of dry needling alone or dry needling with a stretching program. No studies showed a significant difference between dry needling and the control; however, all studies found that flexibility increased from baseline measurements following a dry needling treatment.

Discussion: The results indicate that while dry needling may not be a better option than stretching, it could be used as a means for improving hamstring flexibility. Possible factors for the effectiveness of dry needling include increased blood flow and oxygen saturation to the muscle as well as the release of myofascial trigger points.

Conclusion: Dry needling was not found to be significantly better than stretching, but poses a possibility as another method for improving hamstring flexibility.

KEY WORD: Hamstrings, Athletes, Flexibility, Tightness, Dry needling, Stretching.

REFERENCES

[1]. Witvrouw, E., Danneels, L., Asselman, P., D’Have, & Cambier, D. Muscle flexibility as a risk factor for developing muscle injuries in male professional soccer players. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2003;31(1):41-6.
[2]. McHugh, M. P., Connolly, D. A., Eston, R. G., Kremenic, I.J., Nicholas, S.J., & Gleim, G.W. The role of passive muscle stiffness in symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1999;27(5):594-9.
[3]. Fasen, J. M., O’Connor, A. M., Schwartz, S. L., Watson, J. O., Plastaras, C. T., Garvan, C. W., Bulcao, C., Johnson, S. C., & Akuthota, v. A randomized controlled trial of hamstring stretching: comparison of four techniques. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2009;23(2):660-667.
[4]. Hakim, I. K., Takamjani, I. E., Sarrafzadeh, J., Ezzati, K., & Bagheri, R. The effect of dry needling on the active trigger point of upper trapezius muscle: Eliciting local twitch response on long-term clinical outcomes. Journal of Back & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2019;32(5):717–724.
[5]. Ortega-Cebrian, S., Luchini, N., & Whiteley, R. Dry needling: Effects on activation and passive mechanical properties of the quadriceps, pain and range during late stage rehabilitation ofACL reconstructed patients. Physical Therapy in Sport, 2016;21:57-62.
[6]. Kubo, K., Yajima, H., Takayama, M., Ikebukuro, T., Mizoguchi, H., & Takakura, N. Effects of acupuncture and heating on blood volume and oxygen saturation of human Achilles tendon in vivo. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2010;109(3):545–550.
[7]. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMA Group. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med 2009;6(7):e1000097.
[8]. Ansari, N. N., Alaei, P., Naghdi, S., Fakhari, Z., Komesh, S., & Dommerholt, J. Immediate effects of dry needling as a novel strategy for hamstring flexibility: A single-blinded clinical pilot study. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 2020;29(2):156–161.
[9]. Mason, J. S., Crowell, M., Dolbeer, J., Morris, J., Terry, A., Koppenhaver, S., & Goss, D. L. The effectiveness of dry needling and stretching vs. stretching alone on hamstring flexibility in patients with knee pain: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2016;11(5):672–683.
[10]. Geist, K., Bradley, C., Hofman, A., Koester, R., Roche, F., Shields, A., Frierson, E., Rossi, A., & Johanson, M. Clinical effects of dry needling among asymptomatic individuals with hamstring tightness: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 2017;26(6):507–517.
[11]. Alaei, P., Nakhostin Ansari, N., Naghdi, S., Fakhari, Z., Komesh, S., & Dommerholt, J. (2020). Dry needling for hamstring flexibility: A single-blind randomized controlled trial. Journal of sport rehabilitation, 2020;1–6. Advance online publication.
[12]. Cagnie, B., Barbe, T., De Ridder, E., Van Oosterwijck, J., Cools, A., & Danneels, L. The influence of dry needling of the trapezius muscle on muscle blood flow and oxygenation. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics,2012;35(9):685–691.
[13]. Gilmartin, S. Dry needling: A critical commentary of its effectiveness and safety profile. Physiotherapy Practice and research 2018;39:155-159.

Share this Research

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin

email

Print

Pinterest