Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38689684›Full record

ArticleClinical case reports2024

Dry needling in the management of chronic tension-type headache associated with levator scapulae syndrome: A case report.

Peter Gagnon, James Dunning, Paul Bliton, Casey Charlebois, Nathan Henry, Patrick Gorby, Firas Mourad

Open access · goldAbstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical case reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Peter GagnonAmerican Academy of Manipulative Therapy Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Montgomery Alabama USA.
James DunningAmerican Academy of Manipulative Therapy Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Montgomery Alabama USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1194-0108
Paul BlitonAmerican Academy of Manipulative Therapy Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Montgomery Alabama USA.
Casey CharleboisAmerican Academy of Manipulative Therapy Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Montgomery Alabama USA.
Nathan HenryAmerican Academy of Manipulative Therapy Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Montgomery Alabama USA.
Patrick GorbyAmerican Academy of Manipulative Therapy Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Montgomery Alabama USA.
Firas MouradDepartment of Physiotherapy LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise and Sports Differdange Luxembourg.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8981-2085
American Academy of Arts and Sciences · USLuxembourg Institute of Health · LU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Key Clinical Message: The use of DN to the muscular trigger points and distal periosteal enthesis of the levator scapulae may be a useful adjunct intervention within a multi-modal plan of care for the management of work-related chronic tension-type headaches associated with LSS. Abstract: Chronic tension-type headaches (CTTH) have a lifetime prevalence of 42% and account for more lost workdays than migraine headaches. Dry needling (DN) is being increasingly used by physical therapists in the management of CTTH; however, to date, the supporting evidence is limited. The purpose of this case report was to describe how three sessions of DN targeting myofascial trigger points in the levator scapulae (LS) muscle and its distal enthesis was used to treat a 63-year-old male patient who presented with work-related CTTH associated with levator scapulae syndrome (LSS). The patient was treated for five visits over the course of 2 months. At discharge and 6-month follow-up, the patient reported full resolution of symptoms. Self-report outcomes included the numeric pain rating scale and the Neck Disability Index. The use of DN to the LS muscle and its distal enthesis may be a valuable addition to a multi-modal plan of care in the treatment of work-related CTTH associated with LSS.

Indexed as

dry needlingmyofascialtendontension type headachetrigger point

Identifiers

PMID38689684
PMCPMC11060885
OpenAlexW4396558646

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.