Dry needling review separates neck pain relief from functioning
For persistent neck pain without a specified cause, pain relief favored dry needling over pooled controls. A clear advantage in functioning was not established, and the size of benefit remains unclear.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In people with chronic nonspecific neck pain, pooled results favored dry needling for pain relief, while functioning did not show a statistically clear advantage over controls. The comparisons included different alternatives, and the abstract does not clarify the score units or follow-up. It therefore leaves the practical size and persistence of any benefit uncertain.
The abstract reports mean differences without defining score units or follow-up times and provides no confidence intervals. Different control approaches were pooled, limiting interpretation of the result for any particular comparison.
Pain and functioning are distinct
Researchers assessed pain ratings separately from neck-related disability. A result favoring pain relief does not automatically establish improved daily functioning. The abstract reports different conclusions for these outcomes, so they should remain separate when interpreting the review.
What the uncertain comparison means
The functioning comparison did not establish superiority, but this does not prove equal effects. The reported pain result also lacks an interpretable magnitude in the abstract. Neither finding establishes how long a change lasted after treatment.
The original publication
Effects of dry needling on functioning and pain relief in patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
de Sire A, Marotta N, Sgro M et al.
Disabil Rehabil · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 40627465
- Record checked
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