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Of Specific Muscles
For all muscles: ¡ Anatomical landmarks ¡ Taut band ¡ Trigger Point ¡ Needle with straight in and out motions ¡ Elicit a local twitch response ¡ Draw the needle back to the skin and re-redirect
the needle to treat other trigger points in the same or other areas
¡ Hemostasis
¡ Origin: The wrist-‐finger extensors (extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor digitorum communis and extensor carpi ulnaris muscles) originate from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus bone, the lateral epicondyle, the radial ligament of the elbow and the inter-‐muscular septa through a common tendon.
¡ Insertion: The base of the second metacarpal bone (extensor carpi radialis longus), base of the third metacarpal bone (extensor carpi radialis brevis)
¡ Function: These muscles extend and deviate the hand at the wrist to the radial (extensor carpi radialis longus) side.
¡ Innervation: Deep branch of the radial nerve (posterior interosseous nerve), via the posterior cord of the brachial plexus from spinal roots C7 and C8.
¡ NOTE: The radial nerve may get entrapped in the superior-‐lateral aspect of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle ( Clavert et al. 2009 ).
REFERRED PAIN
¡ The extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle projects pain to the radial and posterior aspects of the hand and the wrist.
¡ The extensor carpi radialis longus muscle refers pain to the lateral epicondyle and to the dorsum of the hand next to the thumb.
Pincer palpation for the extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis muscles
Dry Needling
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¡ Origin: From the infraspinous fossa of the scapula
¡ Insertion: The dorsosuperior facet of the greater tubercle of the humerus.
¡ Function: It assists in external rotation and stabilizes the humeral head together with the other rotator cuff muscles and prevents upwards migration of the humeral head during all movements.
¡ Innervation: Suprascapular nerve, from the C5 and C6 nerve roots.
¡ It is projected to the front of the shoulder (intra-‐articular pain) and the mid-‐deltoid region, extending downwards the arm to the ventrolateral aspect of the arm and forearm and the radial aspect of the hand.
¡ The referred pain from this muscle can mimic the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome ( Qerama et al. 2009 )
REFERRED PAIN
¡ Intrascapular region
REFERRED PAIN u Traditionally the rotator cuff muscles were thought of as humeral head depressors.
u The rotator cuff muscles are poorly positioned to produce effective depression of the humeral head.
u More likely, their main role is to produce compressive forces required for concavity compression.
u Concavity depression is a mechanism in which compression of the convex humeral head into the concave glenoid fossa provides stability against translating forces.
Huijbregts PA, C Bron: Rotator cuff lesions: shoulder impingement. In: Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., J.A. Cleland, P. Huijbregts: Neck and Arm Pain Syndromes: Evidence-Informed Screening, Diagnosis, and Management. Elsevier, 2011: Chapter 16:220-231
Before inserting the needle, always recheck the anatomical landmarks. Patients may move their arm while you prepare the needle.
Dry Needling Dry Needling
In prone It is important to examine the entire muscle. Frequently, there are many trigger points in the infraspinatus muscle.
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In side-‐lying **stand behind the patient when needling
Dry Needling Chapter 7, page 96; Workbook 48 Precautions
In osteoporotic patients fenestration of the scapula has been reported, which would imply that clinicians should avoid needling through the scapula. In clinical practice, however, fenestration has not been an issue.
¡ Origin: The muscle is found between the gluteus maximus and tensor fascia latae. It originates between the posterior and anterior gluteal lines of the ilium.
¡ Insertion: The lateral border of the greater trochanter. A bursa lies under the tendinous portion over the surface of the trochanter.
¡ Function: Hip abduction and medial rotation. Insufficiency of this muscle results in a positive
¡ Trendelenburg test.
¡ Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve from L4, L5 and S1.
¡ TrPs may be found throughout the entire muscle with referral to the sacroiliac joint, gluteal and lumbosacral regions, and along the iliotibial tract, gluteal region, posterior thigh and posterior lower leg.
Referred pain The patient is prone or side lying. The muscle is needled with flat palpation perpendicular to the muscle along the contour of the iliac crest. Strong depression of the subcutaneous tissue is required to reduce the distance from the skin to the muscle. Needle contact at the periosteum is common.
Dry Needling
Iliac Crest
Trochanter
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¡ Origin: The muscle is found deep to the gluteus medius. It originates between the anterior and inferior gluteal lines of the anterior aspect of the ilium
¡ Insertion: The anterior aspect of the greater trochanter. It also has a bursa between the tendon and the insertion at the greater trochanter.
¡ Function: Hip abduction and medial rotation. Insufficiency of this muscle along with the gluteus medius results in a positive Trendelenburg test. Supports the body in single leg stance with the tensor fascia latae.
¡ Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve from L4, L5 and S1.
¡ Referred pain from the gluteus minimus muscle is into the iliotibial tract, gluteal region, posterior thigh and posterior one third of the lower leg.
¡ It is not possible to separate referred pain patterns from the gluteus medius muscle in the area where the two muscles overlap.
Referred pain The patient is prone or side lying. The muscle is needled with flat palpation perpendicular to the muscle along the contour of the iliac crest. Strong depression of the subcutaneous tissue is required to reduce the distance from the skin to the muscle. Needle contact at the periosteum is common.
Dry Needling
Trochanter
Iliac Crest
¡ Origin: The muscle is divided into lateral and medial heads. Proximally, each head anchors to the corresponding condyle of the femur and to the capsule of the knee joint.
¡ Insertion: Both heads insert into the Achilles tendon, which attaches to the posterior surface of the calcaneus bone.
¡ Function: Plantar flexion and supination of the foot. Limited contribution to knee flexion (with the knee extended) and to knee stabilization. In closed kinetic chain it contributes to knee and ankle stability.
¡ `: Tibial nerve by fibers from S1 and S2.
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¡ Most TrPs in this muscle referpain locally. TrPs in the belly of the medial head tend to refer pain to the instep of the foot, sometimes spreading to the lower posterior thigh, the back of the knee, and the posteromedial aspect of leg and ankle.
Referred pain
PRECAUTIONS
Needle away from midline!!!!
The patient lies in the prone position, with the knee slightly flexed and the leg supported by a pillow. For TrPs in the central part of the medial head, a pincer palpation is used to locate and fix the taut band and the TrP and the needle is angled medially, towards the fingers located in the opposite side.
Dry Needling
The patient lies in the prone position, with the knee slightly flexed and the leg supported by a pillow. For TrPs in the central part of the lateral head, a flat palpation is more commonly used to locate and fix the taut band and the TrPs. The needle is directed perpendicular to the skin aiming towards the TrP in a postero-‐anterior direction with a slightly lateral angulation.
Dry Needling
¡ Origin: The muscle originates in the posterior aspect of the head and proximal third of the fibula, in the popliteal line of the tibia and in the tendinous arch between both bones.
¡ Insertion: Fibers attach distally to a superficial tendinous sheet, which continues directly to the Achilles tendon, which in turn attaches to the posterior part of the calcaneus.
¡ Function: Plantar flexion and inversion of the foot.
¡ Innervation: A branch of the tibial nerve containing fibers from L5 – S2.
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¡ Mostly to the distal part of the Achilles tendon and the posterior and plantar surfaces of the heel. Its TrPs can also refer pain to the upper half of the calf and, very rarely, to the ipsilateral sacroiliac joint.
¡ Simons et al. (1999) mentioned an exceptional referral pattern to the ipsilateral jaw area.
Referred pain ¡ When needling the medial part of the muscle, care must be taken to avoid needling the tibial nerve.
Precautions
The patient lies in the prone position, with the knee slightly flexed and the leg supported by a pillow. Needle away from midline
Dry Needling
The patient lies in the prone position, with the knee slightly flexed and the leg supported by a pillow. Needle away from midline
Dry Needling
The patient lies in the prone position, with the knee slightly flexed and the leg supported by a pillow. Needle away from midline
Dry Needling