Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Bothersome Chronic Tinnitus in Patients with Myofascial Trigger Points

Abstract

Introduction Therapeutic dry needling (DN) is effective in reducing the discomfort of chronic somatosensory tinnitus in patients with myofascial trigger points (MTP)s.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of DN in chronic somatosensory tinnitus discomfort in patients with MTP.

Methods Placebo-controlled paired trial that included 16 patients with a diagnosis of somatosensory chronic tinnitus and with the presence of at least one active or latent MTP. Treatment was performed in two phases: (1) four sessions (one session per week for four consecutive weeks) of placebo DN and (2) four sessions of therapeutic DN with a gap (washout) of 15 days between these phases.

Results The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) variable and its emotional domain had a statistically significant reduction in therapeutic DN when compared with placebo DN (p = 0.024 and p = 0.011, respectively).

The tinnitus visual analogic scale (VAS) signaled a reduction in tinnitus discomfort when compared with moments before and after therapeutic DN (p < 0.05).

Conclusion The therapeutic DN technique for MTP in patients with chronic tinnitus of somatosensory origin proved effective in reducing symptom discomfort, as measured by the THI (total score) and its emotional domain when compared with placebo DN.

Keywords

tinnitus - physiotherapy - somatosensorial tinnitus - dry needling - trigger points - placebo-controlled

Introduction

Tinnitus can be defined as sound perception in the head or in the ear in the absence of an external environmental sound source.[1] Epidemiological data show that the prevalence of tinnitus in the city of São Paulo is of 22%.[2]

Tinnitus is a symptom that can be triggered by several causes and, in general, two or three etiological factors can be identified in the same patient. Among these factors, auditory and somatosensory system disorders stand out. The somatosensory subtype has as its main characteristic modulation in tinnitus awareness (intensity, frequency, location) from forced contraction maneuvers of the head and/or neck muscles.[3] According to this Levine[3], this subtype of subjective tinnitus can be present in about 68% of patients.

A possible explanation for this phenomenon might lie in the existing connections between auditory and somatosensory pathways. This has previously been shown in the literature through a study in which an auditory stimulus (the sound of rubbing hands) managed to trigger a tactile sensation (dryness sensation of the palms).[4]

Experimental studies have shown that in the face of an installed hearing loss, changes in (pre-existing) neural connections between the trigeminal and dorsal spine pathways occur (gracile and cuneiform nuclei) over the dorsal cochlear nucleus in the brainstem.[5] These changes involve the amount and expression of glutamate receptors and of auditory and proprioceptive pathways on this nucleus. This rearrangement of neural connections culminates in the increase of somatosensory influence on the dorsal cochlear nucleus. This evidence supports, once again, the relevance of cross modal neural plasticity (reorganization ability between two or more sensory modalities) for the generation of tinnitus.[5]

Somatosensory tinnitus may be related to the existence of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in the head musculature and/or[7] in the neck and/or shoulder girdle, to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and/or to craniocervical proprioceptive disorders.[6] [7]

The association between tinnitus and MTPs has already been widely discussed in the literature.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Myofascial trigger points are hyper-irritable areas located in a tense band of the skeletal muscle. They can be active or latent, depending on their clinical characteristics. An active MTP causes spontaneous resting pain, and its palpation generates a reported pain pattern, similar to the pain complaint of the patient. Latent MTPs may not cause spontaneous pain, and may only appear in the face of the local stimulus; however, they can have repercussions, which may include decrease of range of motion (ROM) as well as muscle weakness.[8]

Clinical complaints related to MTPs (pain, limitation of ROM, paresthesia, and weakness) occur by the shortening of muscle fibers and pressure on adjacent nerves and body tissues.[14]

Treatment modalities already described for MTPs include: (1) antidepressants, neuroleptics, non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs,[15] [16] [17] (2) acupuncture, (3) ultrasonography therapeutic application (longitudinal and compressional sound waves that travel through biological tissue and induces mechanical vibration as well as displacement of molecules), (4) diathermy, (5) transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS), (6) cold spray (cryotherapy resource used as a local anesthetic in physical therapy), (7) several stretching techniques, (8) dry needling (DN), and (9) local injections with anesthetics and/or steroids.[18] [19] The clinical efficacy of these therapies is yet to be defined, since studies comparing pre-and post-treatment outcomes with control and placebo groups are scarce.

Dry needling works as a mechanical stimulus and physical agent that treats MTPs in the affected muscle tissue by inserting a long thin needle. This results in a decrease of muscle pain and stiffness, in an improvement in the ROM, and in a balance in muscle strength and function.[20] [21] [22] The technique does not require injection of any drug and may result in local muscle spasm. Triggering, etiological and perpetuating factors should be corrected to prevent relapse.

Although DN has been described for some time as a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of MTPs,[23] it has never been tested in patients with chronic tinnitus of somatosensory origin. Our hypothesis is that treating MTPs through DN is effective in reducing tinnitus discomfort.

Methods

The present clinical trial was placebo-controlled and crossover (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03295890). It was previously submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of our institution and was approved under the Process Opinion Number 1.784.310, CAAE: 60675516.4.0000.0068 of October 20^th, 2016). All subjects of the present trial have authorized and signed the free and informed consent form (FICF).

Placebo and Therapeutic Groups

After a previous pilot project, 16 patients were selected.

The selection criteria included: (1) age > 18 years old, (2) both genders, (3) constant tinnitus, (4) unilateral or bilateral, (5) for at least 6 months, (6) presence of at least 1 MTP (active or latent) in the head, neck and/or shoulder girdle.

The criterion for the diagnosis of somatosensory tinnitus included the presence of tinnitus (intensity, frequency, location) modulation (exacerbation, onset, attenuation) during passive palpation of the head and neck muscles by one of the researchers, as shown in [Table 1]. Usually those patients may have a previous pathological history of: (1) pain episodes in the head, neck or shoulder girdle, (2) head or neck trauma, (3) inappropriate posture or postural habits, (4) bruxism for long periods, (5) manipulation of the teeth, jaw, or cervical spine, (6) cervical spine dysfunction and/or listhesis associated with the symptom.[13] [24]

Table 1 Muscles suitable for placebo and therapeutic dry needling

Muscles suitable for placebo and therapeutic dry needling
Masseter
Temporalis (medium fibers)
Sternocleidomastoid
Posterior Scalene
Trapezius (descending fibers)
Infraspinatus
Splenius muscle of the head
Medial and Lateral Pterygoids
Rhomboid major
Scapula Lift
Digastric (posterior belly)

The following exclusion criteria were used: (1) previous experience with needles for therapeutic purposes, (2) formal contraindication to DN, such as chronic use of anticoagulants or the presence of hematologic diseases, (3) needle phobia or refusal of the proposed therapy, (4) use of medication for pain or tinnitus that could interfere in the study outcome, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and/or muscle relaxants, up to 30 days prior to the initial assessment, (5) manual therapy for pain management up to 30 days before the initial assessment, and (6) patients with fibromyalgia.

All patients were evaluated by an otolaryngologist and underwent tonal, vocal and immittance audiometry, high-frequency audiometry, tinnitus psychoacoustic measurements, blood tests, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in case of suspected retrocochlear lesion.

On the 1^st day of placebo DN, the selected subjects were submitted to: (1) physical reassessment for MTP, (2) measurement of degree of tinnitus discomfort and (3) cervical and/or shoulder girdle pain, both using VAS, (4) answering of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and of the Neck Disability Index – Brazil (NDI-BR) questionnaires, and (5) measurement of muscle tension using the Neutone (Try-All, Chiba City, Kanto, Japan) device. This device is capable of measuring muscle tension/muscle tone if the measurement condition does not change during follow-up and the position and posture of the patient are consistently replicated at every therapeutic session.[19] Measurements placed perpendicular to the muscle to be tested by the Neutone device were established, performed in triplicate for each patient, always by the same researcher, in order to keep a uniform and constant pressure pattern as well as to prevent measurement misreading.

After collecting the measurement variables, the patient was instructed to lie down in ventral (prone) or dorsal (supine) decubitus, depending on the muscle suitable for treatment (see [Table 1]).

Placebo Dry Needling

After proper positioning of the patient, the therapist made hand and local skin asepsis of the location to be needled with 70% alcohol and wore disposable latex gloves during the procedure. The marketed placebo kit (Asia-Med, Asia-Med Acupuncture Needle, Suhl, Turingia, Germany), had a guide and a needle ([Fig. 1]). It was positioned over the selected MTP with the fixed guide for inserting the placebo needle into the skin. As soon as the needle guide was forced against the skin, it was retracted into the guide, which caused the patient to feel a tactile and/or visual illusion of true penetration ([Fig. 2]). This procedure lasted for ∼ 1 minute and the needle was then removed along with the guide. A very light local pressure was then performed, followed by a nontherapeutic stretching of the “treated” muscle with free hands.

Fig. 1 Placebo needle.

Fig. 2 Placebo needle: moments 1 and 2.

We are aware that, in physical therapy, one of the techniques used in rehabilitation is passive and therapeutic stretching of the muscle in question. In order to not interfere with the response to MTP treatment, in DN placebo, the muscular stretching was not fully performed, according to the technique protocol.

At the end of the procedure, the patient was instructed to sit again to have muscle tension measured using the Neutone device. At the end of this stage, the degree of tinnitus distress and pain was measured again using the VAS.

Dry needling placebo sessions were performed once a week by the same therapist for four consecutive weeks, and the THI and NDI-BR questionnaires were used again at the end of the 4^th placebo session. The measurements of the variables were done immediately after (at the end) the last session.

After an interval of 15 days (washout), all patients began the second phase of treatment, which was called therapeutic DN, with Asia-Med Acupuncture Needle CE 98527 O123 Suhl ([Fig. 3]).

Fig. 3 Examples of therapeutic dry needling in the trapezius muscle (descending fibers).

Therapeutic Dry Needling

After the washout period, the patient returned to the outpatient clinic, answered the THI and NDI-BR questionnaires, scored the tinnitus and pain discomfort through the VAS (before and after therapeutic DN), and had the measurements of muscle tension retraced by the Neutone device (before and after therapeutic DN). The needle, along with the guide, was held with the fingers. Subcutaneous skin penetration into the MTP was performed. The needle progressed ∼ between 1 and 2 cm away from the target MTP and was then angled at 30°. The DN protocol used in our study followed recommendations according to Dommerholt et al.[25]

The primary objective of the technique was to achieve a rapid contractile muscle response.[25] This is an involuntary spinal reflex that contracts muscle fibers in the tense range, an effect that can be achieved both through digital pressure and through DN of the MTP.[26] Long and thin needles with a diameter of 0.25 × 30 mm were used for superficial body tissues, and needles with a diameter of 0.25 × 40 mm were used for deeper body tissues.

Faced with a local twitch response (LTR), the needle remained in place for ∼ 30 seconds to deplete the reflex and then, it was removed. The site was pressed again to check for reactions. In case of signal of nonabolished LTR, the needle was replaced, reinserted into the target MTP, and at this time held for up to 3 minutes. In some patients, intermittent needle twisting was required.[27] The sessions took place once a week for a period of 4 consecutive weeks, and the THI and NDI-BR questionnaires were used again at the end of the 4^th therapeutic DN session (see [Flowchart 1] for the timeline of the clinical trial). The measurements of the variables were done immediately after (at the end) the last session. We did not collect any more patient's data after that. Patients underwent to tinnitus treatment with other protocols.

Flowchart 1 (clinical trial timeline).

Statistical Analysis

The statistical methodology included the Student t-test. The patient qualitative characteristics were described by means of their absolute and relative frequencies. Ages were described using their means and standard deviation (SD), median, minimum and maximum.[28]

The study variables are plotted in [Table 2], categorized according to the moment of the timeline in which they occurred, through their means and SDs, and their corresponding levels of statistical significance.

Table 2 Description of scales before and after each treatment phase, with the corresponding confidence intervals, and comparative tests between treatment groups

	Placebo			pPlacebo (pre VS post)	Terapeutic			p Terapeutic(pre VS post)	pΔ Placebo VS terapeutic*
Variable	Pre	Post	Change pre-post		Pre	Post	Change pre-post
VAS Tinnitus				0.206				<0.001	0.073
average ± SD	7.5 ± 1.7	6.6 ± 2.2	0.94 ± 1.73		6.5 ± 2.3	4.2 ± 2.8	2.31 ± 2.3
VAS Pain				0.383				0.310	0.958
average ± SD	4.6 ± 3.3	3.4 ± 2.9	1.25 ± 2.35		3.2 ± 3.2	1.9 ± 2.3	1.31 ± 3.68
THI				0.999				0.003	0.024
average ± SD	51.1 ± 21.7	51.4 ± 18.8	−0.25 ± 14.91		45.8 ± 18.2	35 ± 15.1	10.75 ± 8
Functional				>0.999				0.105	0.116
average ± SD	19.8 ± 10.3	20.1 ± 9.3	−0.37 ± 6.25		17.5 ± 9.5	13.5 ± 8.6	4 ± 6.81
Emotional				>0.999				0.032	0.011
average ± SD	19.1 ± 9.8	19.9 ± 8.1	−0.75 ± 7.66		17.4 ± 7.8	12.3 ± 7.2	5.13 ± 5.21
Catastrophic				>0.999				>0.999	0.926
average ± SD	11.4 ± 3.6	11.3 ± 3.5	0.13 ± 3.38		10.3 ± 4	10 ± 5	0.25 ± 4.49
NDI-BR				>0.999				>0.999	0.920
average ± SD	10 ± 5.8	9.3 ± 5.2	0.69 ± 2.63		8.9 ± 4.9	8 ± 10.4	0.94 ± 10.47
Neutone (Performed side)				0.064				0.076	0.967
average ± SD	21.8 ± 5.5	19 ± 6.6	2.75 ± 6.41		21 ± 6.5	18.3 ± 6.9	2.69 ± 3.19
Neutone Ratio (Performed/contralateral side)				0.243				>0.999	0.175
average ± SD	2.1 ± 2.4	1.1 ± 0.1	0.63 ± 2.13		1.2 ± 0.4	1.3 ± 0.5	−0.1 ± 0.2

Abbreviations: NDI-BR, neck disability index-Brasil; p, probability; SD (standart deviation); THI, tinnitus handicap inventory; VAS, visual analogue scale.

Bonferroni multiple comparisions; *Student paired t-test

Results

Our sample comprised 16 patients with somatosensory chronic tinnitus who met the selection criteria and underwent placebo DN and therapeutic DN. None of the patients gave up treatment during the trial period. Among them, more than two thirds were female, with a mean age of 58 years old, with unilateral tinnitus in the majority of cases (82.2%).

Comparing the two groups, we observed that the THI variable and its emotional domain reduced, in average, more in the therapeutic DN group than in placebo DN group, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.024 and p = 0.011, respectively) and proven by the analysis of confidence intervals (CIs) for the means of change.

The tinnitus VAS for therapeutic DN showed improvement of the tinnitus discomfort, with a statistically significant mean difference, comparing the moments before and after therapy (p < 0.05). Conversely, the placebo DN showed no additional benefit in the treatment of tinnitus according to the study variables (p > 0.05).

There was a tendency to observe a statistically significant difference (p = 0.073) in the tinnitus VAS, since its reduction was greater after therapeutic DN than after placebo DN.

Discussion

General Characteristics of the Sample

One of the nonauditory comorbidities most commonly associated with tinnitus includes head and neck dysfunction (chronic spasms, muscle tension, neck pain, restriction of ROM), which usually precedes the onset of tinnitus. In a sample of 2,400 patients with tinnitus, 297 (12%) reported that tinnitus started within 2 weeks after the trauma and, in most cases, ∼ 24 hours after it.[29]

The average age observed in our patients was 58 years old, and the ratio of tinnitus between females and males was 2:1. These findings are similar to those of the epidemiological field study conducted for the city of São Paulo.[2] In this study, the symptom prevalence peak was at 65 years old. Out of 430 inhabitants with tinnitus (among 1,960 respondents), 273 (63.5%) were female and 157 (36.5%) were male.[2] However, the aspect of gender may be controversial in the international literature, depending on the country and population studied.

A previous clinical experience with 150 patients examined between 1994 and 1996 at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the Universidade de São Paulo reinforces that our local sample probably differs from that described as usual around the world, whose male individuals are the ones most frequently affected by the symptom. In this local study, the authors observed that 60% of the tinnitus patients were female and 40% were male.[30] In addition, according to this same study, tinnitus was bilateral in 50% of the cases, unilateral in 39%, and the others perceived it in the head.[30] In our sample, unilateral tinnitus was found in 80% of the patients. This variation can be explained by the tinnitus subtype selected for the referred therapeutic intervention in our study.

A well-established concept in the literature is that one of the main characteristics of somatosensory tinnitus is that it occurs predominantly in one of the ears,[24] mainly because such subtype of chronic tinnitus is generally associated with a somatic disorder of the head and neck, which affects primarily one side of the body.

Measurement Variables

Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Score Reduction when Comparing Placebo Dry Needling with Therapeutic Dry Needling

The THI is the only questionnaire validated and adapted to the Portuguese language up to the present time.[31] It was created to quantify subjectively the impact of tinnitus on the quality of life of the patient and to classify reactions and discomfort into three main domains: (1) functional, (2) emotional, and (3) catastrophic.[32] The THI score of the same patient was tested at 2 different points in time to determine its replicability and reliability with a 95% CI in the retest. In a previous study, to determine the minimum difference in the total THI score that could be considered clinically relevant, the absolute change in the questionnaire was compared with the Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I), which was the scale used to measure symptom severity, response, and treatment efficiency in 210 patients with tinnitus.[33] A reduction of at least seven points could be considered to indicate a clinically relevant improvement in therapeutic clinical trials and to calculate the sample size.[33]

Our study revealed an improvement of ≥ 7 points in the total THI score in 31.2% of the patients after placebo DN, and in 68.7% of the patients after therapeutic DN, considering a minimum change variation of 7 points, as mentioned above.[33] The percentage of clinical improvement in patients submitted to placebo DN, although high, matches with the previous report in the literature, which indicates 40% improvement in chronic tinnitus patients due to a placebo effect.[34]

Reduction of Emotional Domain Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Scores when Comparing Placebo Dry Needling with Therapeutic Dry Needling

Our results also showed that DN interfered not only with the total THI score, but especially with its emotional domain, which is understandable, since our input sample included patients with average THI scores > 37 points. Tinnitus severity is known to be directly correlated with stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion levels.[35] It is also known that, the higher the total score of the questionnaire, the higher the chances for this to happen, especially if the THI score is ≥ 38 points.[36]

Evidence suggests that structures involved in controlling the emotional neurophysiological and biological state and mood contribute directly to tinnitus modulation.[35] In the brainstem, two structures have global influence on these functions, the cerulean locus (CL) and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN).[35] The projections of these networks diffuse into the cerebral cortex and to tinnitus-generating sites through direct inputs to the cochlear nucleus and to the inferior colliculus.[35] These CL inputs use norepinephrine and serotonin as neuromodulators.[35] The high prevalence of tinnitus whose psychoacoustic characteristics modulate through forceful contractions of head and neck muscles can, therefore, in some way reflect, in part, the synergy of brainstem connections between tinnitus-generating sites, somatosensory nuclei, trigeminal, cervical, mood and emotion modulating centers, including the CL and the DRN.[35]

One of the first brain functional imaging studies to provide evidence of the link between the limbic system and the central auditory cortex was performed by measuring cerebral blood flow in order to map regions responsive to tinnitus modulation.[37] Patients whose voluntary orofacial movements modulated tinnitus intensity were compared with a control group and submitted to two different paradigms. The first paradigm was unilateral cochlear stimulation through pure tones, whose effect was the activation of the bilateral central auditory cortex in both groups (tinnitus and control). The fact that unilateral sound stimulation triggers a cortical effect in both cerebral hemispheres is fully understood, given the network and cross-neural connections decussation in the brainstem. In the second paradigm, there was modulation of tinnitus awareness through orofacial movements. Unexpectedly, in the latter, the change in cerebral blood flow was unilateral, which directly involves the central auditory pathways as being responsible for spontaneous neural activity that results in symptom modulation. Another relevant finding was that the sound stimulus activated a larger number of brain regions in the tinnitus group when compared with the control group. These findings, once again, support the neurophysiological model of Jastreboff,[1] which emphasizes the dramatic reorganization of the central auditory cortex and related and associated brain areas in tinnitus patients. Such wide range of brain areas is activated through neural connections of the central auditory cortex with the limbic system, through the hippocampus with the gateway to centers that mediate emotional control and memory.[37]

It is also known that the acoustic environment can affect nonauditory brain regions as well. The amygdala and the hippocampus are the two largest areas of the limbic system that receive neural inputs directly or indirectly from the central auditory system, as well as the auditory thalamus (medial geniculate body). Therefore, acoustic stimuli can promote functional changes in the limbic system. In the same way, direct and indirect projections of the limbic system can also modulate neural activity in areas of the central auditory system.[38]

The response of the amygdala to sounds depends directly on their relevance in the sensory environment. Functional MRI in blind individuals, whose acoustic environment is more relevant than in individuals with normal visual acuity, shows a more intense amygdala response in the face of a sound stimulus with emotional connotation. Brain amygdala feedback to sensory stimuli occur even during sleep. However, the hippocampal-auditory system is essential for long-term hearing memory formation. The presence or absence of sound affects directly the structural and functional plasticity of the hippocampus.[39]

Experimental studies have shown that rats subjected to reversible conductive hearing loss developed depression, memory deficit, and reduction of dopamine, homovanilic acid and acetylcholinesterase activity. These behavioral and molecular changes disappeared after hearing rehabilitation.[40]

Neurocognitive tests have been used to compare skills between patients with moderate/severe/catastrophic tinnitus (THI ≥ 38) with the normal population, matched by age, gender, and educational level.[36] Results showed significantly higher deficits in the learning curve of tinnitus patients regarding evoked and associative memory and also when following commands and paying attention.[36]

In a systematic review article, clinical trials evaluating the impact of tinnitus on cognitive function were surveyed. Evidence suggests that the cortical cognitive impairment in patients with disabling chronic tinnitus possibly arises from a deficit in the processing and targeting of attention resources and in the conflict solving and executive control of responses.[41]

Therefore, the reduction in the THI total scores and in its emotional domain seems to be supported by previous findings in literature showing a direct relationship among tinnitus, emotional state, cognition, and memory.

It seems that, in the moment we correct factors associated to tinnitus, such as MTP, and reduce the referred discomfort, we directly or indirectly help improve emotional and mood reactions related to the very awareness of tinnitus. Another possible explanation for the reduction in the emotional THI score would be the action of MTP deactivation in the serotoninergic system, which modulates various physiological and behavioral functions such as sleep, hunger, pain, mood, and emotions.

Most serotoninergic neurons are found in the DRN and in the medial raphe nucleus (MRN), with numerous projections on the auditory system, including the cochlear nucleus (CN), which centralizes most of them. Although the serotoninergic action in the auditory system is not well clarified, it is believed that it takes part in modulatory responses to simple and complex sounds, such as vocalization, for example. The dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) is a site of particular interest when studying the serotoninergic action in the auditory system, since it is the main terminal where thousands of multisensory inputs converge, which manages the location and orientation of the sound source and is an important center for tinnitus generation and modulation.[42]

It is well-known that an atypical serotonergic transmission underlies the pathogenesis of tinnitus, at one or more levels of the auditory pathways, previously documented by spontaneous hyperactivity found all over its network.[43] This fact should contribute not only to the generation but also to the persistent tinnitus awareness in some patients, as well as to the emotional and mood reactions related to it.[43]

We can infer that the treatment of MTPs and their consequent improvement in our sample may have contributed to the regularization of this neural signaling pathway. The reduction in spontaneous hyperactivity of these multisensory connections could explain the reduction in the THI emotional domain score in these patients.

Visual Analogue Scale of Tinnitus Discomfort before and after Therapeutic Dry Needling

Clinical trials that study patients with subjective symptoms such as chronic pain depend on the adequate measurement of their disability as a requirement to verify the response to treatment. Although there is no gold standard method for measuring subjective symptoms, scales are adopted routinely in the clinical practice.

The VAS is a metric scale for intensity or frequency of symptoms that require direct objective measurement. The scale ranges from “0 cm” which corresponds to “absence of the symptom” to “10 cm” (unbearable symptom). The symptom score can be decoded as follows: mild (up to 3 cm), moderate (4 to 7 cm), and severe (8 to 10 cm). The scale needs to be visually presented to the patient so that they can see it.

In our research, there was no statistically significant difference regarding the perception of tinnitus for treatments with placebo and therapeutic DN, as measured by the VAS, despite the tendency towards statistical deviation observed. We believe that this is because the sample size was smaller than initially designed. The screening for the inclusion and exclusion criteria made it very difficult for us to reach the desired sample size in a timely manner (a number of patients who could have been included in the research had had previous experiences with acupuncture). However, when analyzing exclusively the tinnitus before and after therapeutic DN, the variation in the VAS was statistically significant.

Currently, studies evaluating physical therapy treatments of somatosensory tinnitus are not comparable in terms of techniques used and of variables measured during the clinical follow-up of the patients. For this reason, we searched in the literature for clinical trials that used study variables such as the THI and the VAS. Among them, we have found transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), manual therapy, occlusive treatments, laser, home cervical exercises, and muscle relaxation techniques for MTP.

The effect of TENS was tested in 65 patients with chronic tinnitus.[44] The authors did not specify whether the patients had somatosensory tinnitus as a diagnosis or not. Cases with mild hearing loss and severe tinnitus were selected. The patients were treated twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks; 45 were treated with TENS and 20 with placebo stimulation. About 62% of the TENS-treated patients had tinnitus improvement, versus 10% of those in the placebo group. Although the improvement reported by patients was greater in the study group than in the placebo group, it was observed that the VAS for tinnitus discomfort decreased from 6.7 to 5.4 after TENS, and from 6.5 to 5.7 in the placebo group. In other words, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The same occurred for the THI score, which decreased from 49.4 on average to 42.8 after TENS and rose from 44.5 on average to 45.2 in the placebo group.

In a recent clinical trial, interocclusal treatment was evaluated for a period of 3 years in 89 patients with tinnitus and mandibular muscle pain.[45] The 64 patients who reached the end of the study had a mean reduction from 68.3 (100 mm scale) to 37.4 for tinnitus disability assessed by the VAS, after 1 year of trial. No significant reduction was observed in subsequent years. The number of affected painful muscles decreased from 7 to 2 in 1 year of therapy, and remained so for 2 consecutive years. The authors considered a change ≥ 20 mm in the VAS as clinically significant; 58% of the patients had this improvement within 1 year of therapy, and this was sustained in 43% of the cases for 2 consecutive years. About 46% of the patients reported a 50% reduction in the frequency and severity of tinnitus.

In a clinical trial, 20 patients with subjective tinnitus underwent 2 weekly sessions, up to a total of 12 complete sessions with continuous, low-intensity, red-wave (630 nm) and infrared (808 nm) diode laser, full dose of 120 Joules per ear and per session with the purpose of suppressing tinnitus temporarily.[46] A paired t-test showed improvement in the VAS for tinnitus intensity from 5.7 before to 3.2 after completing therapy (p <0.0001); the THI score reduced from 68.6 to 54.6 (14 points reduction on average).

Michiels et al.[47] evaluated prognostic indicators for tinnitus disability reduction after cervical physiotherapy in patients with somatic cervicogenic tinnitus. Patients with moderate to severe tinnitus were assessed using the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) questionnaire and the cervical complaints questionnaire (Bournemouth Cervical Questionnaire [QCB] > 14 points). They received physical therapy treatment for the cervical spine, multimodal care, which included manual mobilization and home exercises of cervical self-mobilization for the flexor muscles. Twelve physical therapy sessions were held for 6 weeks. Measurement variables were documented before, immediately after treatment, and 6 weeks after the end of treatment. The patients whose tinnitus modulated (increased or decreased) simultaneously with cervical complaints had the lowest TFI scores, immediately after therapy (p = 0.001), and after late follow-up (p = 0.03). In addition, patients with low-frequency tinnitus and worsening after inadequate spinal postures were also responsible for lower TFI scores after treatment (R = 0.357), that is, they responded better to therapy.

We know that pain is a subjective symptom affected by several factors. In physical therapy, ways of treating discomfort are studied tirelessly in different groups and levels of severity. This would not be different for patients with somatosensory tinnitus. In our research, even though MTPs were present in the treated patients (as mentioned before), pain was not unbearable or incapacitating. For this reason, the VAS measurements for pain did not produce values statistically significant at the end of the trial. In the same way, the Neutone device, which assessed muscular tension and could be related to pain generated by MTPs, did not reveal statistically relevant changes.

Although these values were not significant, patients with somatosensory tinnitus searched for treatment for their main discomfort and were commonly not aware of the relationship between the somatic and auditory systems and that they may affect each other. When the patient is correctly diagnosed, we know there are greater chances for improvement of symptoms and, consequently, of their quality of life.[13] Pain, which in many instances is not a simple clinical finding, becomes a great ally to stop tinnitus discomfort and fully improve it.

What could be observed when conducting the present research was the dedication of the patients, for they were never absent in the treatment sessions and believed in the improvement of their symptoms. And it really came true, for the efficacy of DN in the MTP of patients with chronic tinnitus was confirmed.

Conclusion

The therapeutic DN technique for MTPs in patients with chronic somatosensory tinnitus was effective in reducing the discomfort of the symptom measured by the THI (total score) and its emotional domain.

Conflict of Interests

The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.

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Publication History

Received: 13 October 2020

Accepted: 03 March 2021

Article published online:
30 August 2021