Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the difference in local skin temperature between static versus dynamic dry needling. This was to evaluate the physiological effect that these two dry needling techniques had on local skin temperature of the surrounding area.
Method: One hundred and two participants were split into three groups through a process of random allocation so that there were 34 participants within each group. Participants had to have an active myofascial trigger point (MFTP) in their anterior deltoid muscle and be between the ages of 18 to 60 years of age. If there were no exclusion criteria, participants were asked to sign a consent form, undergo a full history, physical examination, cervical regional examination and shoulder regional examination. The set up procedure was the same for all three of the groups, where the participants were asked to sit in a temperature controlled room with their anterior shoulder exposed for five minutes after a series of markers had been drawn on the skin using a stencil. After five minutes, a temperature reading using a thermal imaging camera (Fluke Ti400) was taken. Sterilisation using an alcohol swab containing 70% isopropanol was used to sterilise the anterior deltoid muscle after the first reading, the participant was then asked to sit for a further five minutes. At the end of this five minute period, a second temperature reading using a thermal imaging camera was taken. Group A, which was the control received no further intervention, group B received static dry needing where no movement of the needle occurred. Group C received dynamic dry needling where there was movement after the insertion of the needle. Five minutes after the second temperature reading occurred, the third and final temperature reading took place for all three groups.
Results: Statistical analysis reveals that there is no statistically significance between the static and dynamic needling groups in regards to change in skin temperature. Although there was an observed increase in temperature in the two needling groups once the needles were inserted, there weren’t any statistical significant changes between the needling groups and the control group at a five minute interval.
A statistical significant decrease in temperature occurred within group A (control) and group C (dynamic) after the sterilisation process where p≤ 0.05 for the centre point, inner circle and the outer circle...
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)