The Efficacy of Dry Needling in Combination With Electrical Stimulation on Pain Reduction and Improved Function in Chronic Plantar Heel Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic

Focused Clinical Question: What is the efficacy of dry needling (DN) in combination with electrical stimulation on pain and function when compared with DN alone, conservative care, or placebo treatments for chronic plantar heel pain? Clinical Bottom Line: Based on a review of three good-quality randomized controlled trials, it appears the lasting effects of utilizing DN in combination with electrical stimulation on chronic plantar heel pain for reduction in pain and an increase in function are superior in some outcome measures but not all outcome measures over time as compared with other treatments. It is unclear whether DN in combination with electrical stimulation is superior to DN alone; however, both are clinically useful when used adjunctively more than four times in a month. Based on conflicting results, needling protocol variations, treatment type comparison variations, and good-quality studies, the grade of a B is assigned to this critically appraised topic.