title: Comparison of the therapeutic effects of ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injection and dry needling in rotator cuff disease: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of platelet-rich plasma injection with those of dry needling on shoulder pain and function in patients with rotator cuff disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-centre, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with a supraspinatus tendon lesion (tendinosis or a partial tear less than 1.0 cm, but not a complete tear) who met the inclusion criteria recruited between June 2010 and February 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two dry needling procedures in the control group and two platelet-rich plasma injections in the experimental group were applied to the affected shoulder at four-week intervals using ultrasound guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, passive range of motion of the shoulder, a physician global rating scale at the six-month follow-up, adverse effects monitoring and an ultrasound measurement were used as outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical effect of the platelet-rich plasma injection was superior to the dry needling from six weeks to six months after initial injection (P < 0.05). At six months the mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index was 17.7 ± 3.7 in the platelet-rich plasma group versus 29.5 ± 3.8 in the dry needling group (P < 0.05). No severe adverse effects were observed in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous platelet-rich plasma injections lead to a progressive reduction in the pain and disability when compared to dry needling. This benefit is certainly still present at six months after treatment. These findings suggest that treatment with platelet-rich plasma injections is safe and useful for rotator cuff disease.
authors.affiliation: Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.forename: Gi-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yong-Kyun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Tae
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome