Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes

TL;DR

This review explores how dry needling can help relieve tension-type headaches by targeting specific muscles and highlights the need for standardized methods.

Contribution

The paper provides a scoping review of dry needling techniques for tension-type headaches, emphasizing the need for standardized protocols.

Findings

Dry needling targeting temporalis and trapezius muscles showed favorable outcomes for tension-type headache symptoms.

Manual palpation was the primary method for identifying myofascial trigger points, but diagnostic criteria varied across studies.

No serious adverse effects were reported, indicating dry needling is a safe treatment option for TTH.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent form of primary headache. The etiology of TTH is not yet fully understood, although it is associated with the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in cervical and facial muscles. Dry needling (DN) therapy has emerged as an effective and safe non-pharmacological option for pain relief, but there are a lack of systematic reviews focused on its specific characteristics in TTH. The aim of this paper is to examine the characteristics and methodologies of DN in managing TTH. Methods: A scoping review was conducted with inclusion criteria considering studies that evaluated DN interventions in adults with TTH, reporting target muscles, diagnostic criteria, and technical features. The search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Web of Science, resulting in the selection of seven studies after a rigorous filtering and evaluation process. Results: The included studies, primarily randomized controlled trials, involved a total of 309 participants. The most frequently treated muscles were the temporalis and trapezius. Identification of MTPs was mainly performed through manual palpation, although diagnostic criteria varied. DN interventions differed in technique. All studies included indicated favorable outcomes with improvements in headache symptoms. No serious adverse effects were reported, suggesting that the technique is safe. However, heterogeneity in protocols and diagnostic criteria limits the comparability of results. Conclusions: The evidence supports the use of DN in key muscles such as the temporalis and trapezius for managing TTH, although the diversity in methodologies and diagnostic criteria highlights the need for standardization. The safety profile of the method is favorable, but further research is necessary to define optimal protocols and improve reproducibility. Implementing objective diagnostic criteria and uniform protocols will facilitate advances in clinical practice and future research, ultimately optimizing outcomes for patients with TTH.

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