Publications
Study of the effectiveness of dry needling in the context of treatment of low back pain in a post-surgical patient: a case study
Authors: Aleksander Burzawa 1, Mateusz Stefanski 2, Mattia Di Stefani 1, Julia Kuberska 1, Tomasz Krol 3, Michal Kuszewski 2
Affiliations:
- Student’s research science team FASCYnaci, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland
- Institute of Physiotherapy, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland
- Department of Kinesitherapy and Special Methods, School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
Journal: Physiotherapy Quarterly - September 2026, Volume 34, Issue 3, Pages 120-125 (DOI: 10.5114/pq/217016)
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Field & Applications:
- Medical
- Treatment evaluation
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Low back pain
- Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
Introduction: The purpose of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of dry needling (DN) in the context of treating LBP (low back pain)-related symptoms over a period of four weeks following a surgery of laparoscopic removal of an ovarian cyst in a female patient.
Methods: The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was chosen to assess the patient’s pain level, and functional status was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). An inclinometer was applied to measure the ranges of motion in the lumbar spine in the sagittal and frontal planes, and functional capacity was evaluated using the Y-Balance test. Soft tissue properties in the area of the lumbar spine were checked for mobility in the sagittal plane using myotonometry. The muscles punctured as part of therapy included the erector spinae, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and piriformis.
Results: The patient’s reported pain level decreased. Her functional status, assessed according to the ODI questionnaire, improved. Inclinometric examination did not reveal obvious changes for most of the ranges of motion tested. Assessment of the right lower limb functional capacity with regard to the frontal, posteromedial, and posterolateral planes using the Y-Balance test also showed no significant changes. As for the myotonometric test, the greatest differences were noted in the dynamic stiffness parameter (S), present over almost the entire targeted area. A similar correlation was found in the parameters of relaxation (R) and creep (C).
Conclusions: The use of a dry needling procedure promotes tone symmetrisation in soft tissues and reduces the level of pain experienced.
Keywords: myotonometry, pain reduction, soft tissue, muscles
Based on the analysis of the results of the study, the following conclusions have been drawn:
- The use of the dry needling procedure has an impact on the patient’s pain level – a significant decrease is observed.
- The use of the dry needling procedure has no immediate effect on improving the patient’s functional status, yet it can be a good starting point for achieving this effect should the therapeutic process be complemented with, for instance, medical functional training.
- The use of the dry needling procedure has an impact on the tension symmetry of the soft tissues.