Acute Effects of Dry Needling on Myofascial Trigger Points in the Triceps Surae of Ballet Dancers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

The study had only 11 dancers, and the authors said a power analysis for range of motion required 48 participants, so important effects could have been missed. All participants came from one professional ballet company and were similar in age and experience, so the findings may not apply to other dancers or patients. Both groups received the same calf stretching after needling, so the contribution of dry needling alone cannot be separated from stretching. Subject blinding was incomplete because some dancers had prior dry needling and recognised the twitch response, and two subjects requested not to be dry needled. The study measured only immediate effects after treatment, so it cannot show whether any change lasts. The paper does not describe allocation concealment or a pre-registered primary outcome.

The authors reported no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not state funding.

Do not conclude that dry needling improves calf pain, range of motion, or strength in ballet dancers. Calf pain did not improve more than sham, one range finding favoured sham, and torque findings were inconsistent; both groups also received stretching, and the study was too small to settle the question.