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Abstract
Owing to its multifactor etiology, there is no standard therapeutic protocol for the treatment of MTrPs and different alternatives have been suggested. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare two forms of treatment for inactivation of MTrPs: laser therapy and dry needling. Although studies have reported the deactivation of MTrPs with these two methods, there is a lack of clinical trials comparing the two techniques. Eighteen patients with active myofascial trigger points of masseter muscle who meet the inclusion criteria participated in this study. They were 17 females and 1 male. Their ages ranged from 18 to 42 years with an average of 30 years. After accepting to be enrolled in the present study, each patient was assigned into 1 of 2 equal-sized groups: group 1: The MTrPs received application of low level laser (diode laser of a wavelength 980 nanometers, power 0.2 watt, total energy 12 joule and exposure time 50 seconds). group 2: MTrPs underwent dry needling MTrPs in both groups underwent 3 treatment sessions a week for 4 weeks; each session took 50 seconds. Outcome measures included assessment of the pain intensity at rest, on function and on palpation [PP] of the MTrP measured by NRS as well as assessment of the painless MMO. These outcome variables were measured prior to the treatment, at the end of 2- weeks (mid-treatment), at the end of 4- weeks (end of treatment), and monthly after completion of treatment for 3months. The collected data was then statistically analyzed