Active myofascial trigger points, those tight, tender knots in a band of muscle, can refer pain into the head and are a recognised feature of tension-type headache. This 2024 trial looked at whether dry needling could reduce both the headache and the trigger points themselves.
Participants with tension-type headache were randomly assigned to receive dry needling or to a control group. The researchers then compared headache intensity, the number of active trigger points, and how much people felt they had improved.
If needling can measurably reduce the number of active trigger points, that gives a tangible, physical target for treatment rather than only tracking how someone says they feel.
The dry needling group had fine needles inserted into active trigger points, with the aim of releasing the taut band and calming its referral of pain.
Alongside headache intensity, the researchers counted active trigger points before and after, giving a physical measure of change in the muscle.
Dry needling produced greater improvements than the control condition on the study’s main measures.
The dry needling group reported lower headache intensity after treatment than the control group.
The number of active trigger points fell more in the dry needling group, a physical sign of change in the muscle.
People who received dry needling reported a greater sense of meaningful improvement overall.
The benefit centred on the muscles that were actually needled, supporting a specific rather than general effect.
Dry needling reduced both headache intensity and the number of active trigger points, and people felt more improved, compared with the control group.
This adds to the evidence that needling active trigger points can help headaches driven by muscular tension. It supports using dry needling as a targeted tool within a broader treatment plan, chosen after assessment rather than applied to everyone.
Because the study measured trigger points directly, it also reinforces the value of assessing and reassessing the muscles, so treatment can be guided by what is actually changing.
Supports needling active trigger points as part of a plan that also builds movement and load tolerance.
Directly reinforces trigger point dry needling as a core tool for tension-driven headache.
Soft tissue work complements needling by settling the surrounding muscles and tissue.
Relevant for active clients who carry trigger points in the neck and shoulders from training and posture.
This was a small study, so the findings should be read as promising rather than definitive, and larger trials with longer follow up would strengthen the picture. As with all needling research, blinding is difficult, which can influence self-reported outcomes.
Please confirm the citation details and sample size against the source before publishing.
In people with tension-type headache and active trigger points, dry needling reduced headache intensity and the number of active trigger points, and people felt more improved, compared with a control group.
For myotherapists, this supports trigger point dry needling as a targeted, assessment-led tool for tension-type headache.
Effects of Dry Needling on Active Myofascial Trigger Points and Pain Intensity in Tension-Type Headache. Monti-Ballano S, and colleagues. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2024; 14(4): 332.
