Multiple sclerosis treatment: dry needling, new therapeutic frontiers

Abstract

Due to high prevalence of spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and functional limitations that pain and gait alterations cause, is necessary to investigate possible benefits of Dry Needling (DN) in this pathology. A case study of a 35 years old Secondary Progressive MS woman with 6,5 points on Expanded Disability Status Scale by performing deep DN intervention on Rectus Femoris (RF) and Gastronecmius Medialis (GM) muscles of higher spasticity lower limb was carried out. Spasticity level, perceived pain, range of motion (ROM) and superficial electromyography activity of this lower limb, together with functional capacity, life quality and Spatial-Temporal Gait parameters before and after intervention were evaluated. After intervention, spasticity decrease (especially on RF) and gait speed increase was noticed. Also, less muscle activity on walking and less delay time of step execution was observed. Our results suggest a functional improvement of the patient’s gait motion, but conclusive changes were not objectified in pain perception and ROM. More research studies about the effect of DN in MS must be necessary in order to obtain better evidence.