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. 2025 Apr;43(2):63-73.
doi: 10.1177/09645284251327198. Epub 2025 Mar 21.

Dry needling in multiple sclerosis: a scoping review

Abbas Tabatabaei  1   2 , Farzan Molaei  3 , Tobia Zanotto  4   5   6 , Sharon G Lynch  6 , Jacob Sosnoff  1   2   4
Affiliations

Dry needling in multiple sclerosis: a scoping review

Abbas Tabatabaei et al. Acupunct Med. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Dry needling (DN) has recently been investigated as an alternative strategy to reduce muscle spasticity and improve mobility in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The aim of the present review was to identify any available literature on the potential benefits of DN in pwMS.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Embase/Ovid, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science and PEDro databases and at ClinicalTrials.gov. The search results were limited to studies published between 2000 and 2023 without language restrictions. All articles reporting on the application of DN (defined as the use of a needle to target myofascial trigger point(s) without injection) in pwMS were included. Studies related to traditional medicine were excluded. Two reviewers independently investigated the quality of reporting based on Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Data on the effects of DN on muscle spasticity, pain intensity, mobility and other reported outcomes in pwMS were extracted and analyzed.

Results: Four original articles (two case reports and two case series) and one conference paper reporting the findings of a randomized controlled trial randomized controlled trial (RCT) were included. The RCT was small (n = 16 participants) and sham-controlled with no significant differences between groups. In all four case reports/series, reduced spasticity was observed following DN treatment in pwMS. Findings with respect to other outcomes (including pain intensity, mobility, quality of life, manual dexterity and disability reduction) were mixed.

Conclusion: Although no firm conclusions can be drawn from these uncontrolled case reports/series, DN for pwMS appears feasible and (based on limited clinical observation) may have potential as an adjunct therapeutic method to address spasticity in pwMS. However, the quantity and quality of available data are extremely limited. There is a need for high-quality studies of DN (ideally adequately sized RCTs with a low risk of bias) to further explore its effectiveness in the MS population.

Keywords: dry needling; mobility; multiple sclerosis; muscle spasticity; myofascial trigger point.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article: Dr J.S. and Dr T.Z. receive consulting fees from Genentech Inc. Dr J.S. additionally receives consulting fees from Xavor, Inc. The remaining authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.

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