The Science Behind Dry Needling and Trigger Points

The trigger point phenomena and dry needling as an approach to treat myofascial pain has gained much interest in recent years. However, the popularity of these topics has been rivaled by the controversy surrounding them within the medical and rehab community. Considering the rapid rise in continuing education courses marketed to clinicians, the media hype in the professional sports and chronic pain arenas, and the informed consumer seeking less invasive alternatives to surgery, having an in depth understanding of the current state of the literature on these topics is paramount. This course is designed to delve into the literature surrounding the reliability and validity of the trigger point hypothesis, the efficacy of dry needling and acupuncture, and how these may or may not fit into a biopsychosocial approach to treating pain. (Recorded at PAINWeek 2018)