Intramuscular Needle electrical needling of trigger knots in rat gastrocnemius(calf) results in less irritable sites. I use IMS for areas I wish to avoid use of local (neck, about hip where need to be able to walk after etc.). I couple it with massage techniques to remove any residual triggers and find it helpful. Nice to have some basic science showing it works.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2018 Feb 25;43(2):127-32.
doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.170155.
[Effect of Dry Needling Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Point on Sample Entropy
of Electromyography of Gastrocnemius Injured Site in Rats].
Ding CL et al
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29516703
- striking gastroc to induce triggers
- compared effects of needling to pressure /massage/stretching
- looked at “mean sample entropy of EMG signals” as evidence of muscle health
- “The mean sample entropy of the needling and needling plus stretching groups were significantly higher than that of the stretching group (P<0.01), without remarkable difference between the two needling groups [plain needling or needling and stretching] in the mean sample entropy (P>0.05), suggesting a better efficacy of dry needling in easing trigger point activity.”
Comment – I use a pointer plus and pulse stimulate knots for 120 pulses manually done. Then move onto next knot until area better.