Trial | Intervention | Trigger points and Acupuncture points selected for treatment | Outcome measure | Number of treatment sessions per week |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tillu and Gupta (1998) | 25 mm acupuncture needle (diameter unknown) inserted for 15 minutes and stimulated every 5 minutes for 5 sec. Needle was manipulated to produce de qi. No control group. | (i) Acupuncture points KI.3; BL.60 and SP.6 (ii) Gastrocnemius MTrP and heel MTrP. Specific location of MTrP in the heel and calf not identified. | (i) Visual analogue scale (ii) Verbal pain score Outcome measures recorded at 4 and 6 weeks post baseline. | 4 sessions of acupuncture/1 per week. If symptoms were not resolved after this period, 2 sessions (1 per week) of acupuncture and dry needling were implemented. |
Imamura et al. (1998) | 22-25 gauge needle repetitively inserted and withdrawn with injection of 1% lidocaine into the MTrP; plus *standard therapy. Control group received conventional conservative therapy but not outlined in the methods. | Medial head of Gastrocnemius; Soleus; Tibialis posterior; Popliteus; Abductor hallucis; Peroneus Longus and Flexor digitorum brevis | (i) Duration of treatment (ii) Visual analogue scale (iii) Pressure pain threshold Outcome measures recorded at discharge, 6 and 24 months | The number of sessions and times per week varied between the groups |
Perez-Millan and Foster (2001) | 10-120 mm acupuncture needle (0.20-0.25 mm diameter); plus electrostimulator (2-4 Hz) for 20-30 minutes. No control group. | (i) Acupuncture points KI.1, 3, 6; BL.60, 67; GB 44 (ii) MTrPs points in the heel and arch regions | (i) Visual analogue scale (ii) **Foot function index questionnaire Outcome measures recorded at 6 weeks post baseline | 6 sessions/1 per week |