Electromyographic Activity Evolution of Local Twitch Responses During Dry Needling of Latent Trigger Points in the Gastrocnemius Muscle: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Objective Trigger points (TrPs) are hypersensitive spots within taut bands of skeletal muscles that elicit referred pain and motor changes. Among the variety of techniques used for treating TrPs, dry needling is one of the most commonly applied interventions. The question of eliciting local twitch responses (LTRs) during TrP dry needling is unclear. Our main aim was to investigate the evolution of the electromyographic (EMG) peak activity of each LTR elicited during dry needling into latent TrPs of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle. Methods Twenty asymptomatic subjects with latent TrPs in the gastrocnemius medialis muscle participated in this cross-sectional study. Changes in EMG s…