title: The Role of Psychological Factors in the Perception of Postneedling Soreness and the Influence of Postneedling Intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myofascial trigger point dry needling is frequently associated with postneedling soreness, which can generate patient dissatisfaction and reduced treatment adherence. Psychological factors may influence the perception of postneedling soreness and the effectiveness of postneedling soreness treatments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the present study were to determine whether catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, pain anxiety, and fear of pain are significant predictors of postneedling soreness over time; and to analyze whether the relationships between psychological variables and postneedling soreness vary as a function of the postneedling soreness intervention, which included ischemic compression, placebo or control (without treatment).
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated-measures observational study nested within a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers (N = 90; 40 men and 50 women) 18 to 39 years of age (mean ± standard deviation 22 ± 3 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, pain anxiety, and fear of pain were evaluated as possible predictors of postneedling pain before dry needling in a latent myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle. Participants were then divided into a treatment group that received ischemic compression as a postneedling intervention, a placebo group that received sham ischemic compression, and a control group that did not receive any treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain during needling and postneedling soreness were quantified using a visual analogue scale during needling, after treatment, and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A multilevel analysis revealed that individuals who exhibited more catastrophic thinking showed less postneedling soreness intensity immediately after needling in all participants (β = -0.049). Pain-related anxiety was linked to greater immediate postneedling soreness in the compression condition (β = 0.057). Finally, participants who exhibited more catastrophic thinking showed a slower rate of decline in postneedling soreness levels over time in the compression condition (β = 0.038).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catastrophizing was associated with lower levels of postneedling soreness immediately after needling in all subjects. Although ischemic compression seems to be a useful procedure to reduce postneedling soreness, its efficacy could be slightly reduced in patients presenting higher scores of pain-related anxiety. Psychological procedures may help to correct the distorted pain expectancies associated with needling interventions and might also improve the effectiveness of ischemic compression.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, CEU-San Pablo University, Carretera Boadilla del Monte, Km 5,300, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain∗. Electronic address: martinpintado.a@gmail.com.
authors: Aitor
authors: A
authors: Martín-Pintado-Zugasti
authors: Department of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain(†).
authors: Almudena
authors: A
authors: López-López
authors: Department of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain(‡).
authors: Jose Luis
authors: JL
authors: González Gutiérrez
authors: Physiotherapy Department, Physiotherapy and Pain Group, School of Physiotherapy, Alcalá de Henares University, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain(§).
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Pecos-Martín
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain(‖).
authors: Ángel Luis
authors: ÁL
authors: Rodríguez-Fernández
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain(¶).
authors: Isabel María
authors: IM
authors: Alguacil-Diego
authors: Physiotherapy Department, Physiotherapy and Pain Group, School of Physiotherapy, Alcalá de Henares University, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain(#).
authors: Tomás
authors: T
authors: Gallego-Izquierdo
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Grupo Multidisciplinar de Investigación y Tratamiento del Dolor, Grupo de Excelencia Investigadora URJC-Banco de Santander, Madrid, Spain∗∗.
authors: Josue
authors: J
authors: Fernández-Carnero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011584:Psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D061028:Trigger Points / Q000503:physiopathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic