Comparison of the Efficacy of Dry Needling and Balneotherapy in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Myofascial pain syndrome (MAS) is a syndrome characterized by muscle spasm, tenderness, limited range of motion, stiffness, fatigue and sometimes autonomic dysfunctions accompanying pain and pain caused by trigger points in the tense bands formed in the muscles The disease is diagnosed clinically and there are many pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches in treatment.

One of these treatments is dry needle therapy. Dry needling has been used for a long time in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome.

Another treatment used in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome is balneotherapy (spa treatment At Ahi Evran University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, balneotherapy is frequently used in the treatment of patients with myofascial pain syndrome.

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of dry needling and balneotherapy, which has been used in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome for many years.

120 volunteers are planned to be included in this study. Patients will be randomly divided into 3 groups. (randomization will be done as 1: 1: 1 with a closed envelope). The patients in the first group will be given "dry needle treatment" for the aching muscle. No medication is used in this treatment.In this treatment, depending on the thickness of the adipose tissue under the skin, 13 mm, 25 mm or 30 mm long; 0.20 mm thick acupuncture needle is used. Dry needling will be done with painful trigger point and it will be waited for about 20 minutes. This treatment will be repeated once a week for 3 weeks.

Patients in the second group will be given "spa treatment". A total of 15 sessions, 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks, will be held in the spa, which operates within the body of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center. Both of these methods will be applied to patients in the third group.

Evaluations will be repeated before treatment, 1st week after treatment and Week 12 (3rd Month). Patients' neck range of motion (by measuring with goniometer) will be evaluated and pressure pain threshold will be measured using algometer.

Patients' pain levels will be evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale, their moods with Beck Depression Scale, anxiety levels with Beck Anxiety Scale, fear of movement with Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, neck functions with Neck Disability Questionnaire Questionnaire, and quality of life level with SF-36 Quality of Life Scale.

In addition, the Global Assessment Scale will be used to evaluate patients at the 1st and 12th weeks after treatment. This scale is scored as "-1 = deterioration, 0 = no change, 1 = slight improvement, 2 = significant improvement and 3 = near-normal improvement". Survey applications will take approximately 10 minutes.

Inclusion criteria

• Female and male patients between the ages of 18-50 who have been diagnosed as "myofascial pain syndrome (MAS)" by clinical and examination
• Patients with cooperations who can correctly understand what is stated in the patient information form
• Patients who consent to participate in the study according to the informed voluntary consent form will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of cervical disc hernia, radiculopathy or myelopathy
• Having tumoral, infectious, psychiatric, systemic disease and bleeding diathesis
• Stage 3-4 osteodegeneration
• Having a diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome according to the diagnostic criteria of 2016 American College of Rheumatology
• Presence of kyphoscoliosis
• Pregnancy
• Having had previous brain, neck or shoulder surgery
• Having received treatment for MAS in the last 6 months
• Symptom onset duration is less than 3 months
• Having analgesic use for any reason
• Failure to cooperate