Trigger point injection is often used in clinical situation for treatment of myofascial pain syndrome. This study was designed to compare the therapeutic effects of lidocaine injection with that of dry needling. Trigger point injections with 1% lidocaine were given to 23 patients while dry needling was performed on trigger points in 22 patients. Effects was assessed by measuring the subjective pain intensity(Verbal Rating Scale;VRS) and the pressure pain threshold of trigger points by pressure algometer. Follow up assessments of subjective pain intensity and pressure pain threshold were performed immediately, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after the injection or dry needling.
Significant improvement of the measured VRS was occurred immediately after 1% lidocaine injection and 1 day after the dry needling. On the other hand, pressure pain threshold was significantly increased immediately, 3 days, 7 days after lidocaine injection and 3days, 7 days after dry needling.
In conclusion, there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of the two treatment methods for the myofascial pain.
