Localization of Muscle Edema and Changes on Muscle Contractility After Dry Needling of Latent Trigger Points in the Gastrocnemius Muscle

Abstract

In this article, we aimed to describe what happens in skeletal muscle after dry needling intervention using magnetic resonance imaging (to show if there is edema) and tensiomyography (to measure contractile properties). At the same time, we describe the relationship between pain, edema, and contractility. Our results suggest that in asymptomatic patients, the application of dry needling over latent trigger points produce intra-muscular edema, an increase in muscle stiffness and an improved muscle contraction time.