Objective To attempt to establish an objective quantitative indicator to characterize the trigger point activity

so as to evaluate the effect of dry needling on myofascial trigger point activity.Methods Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank control group

dry needling(needling)group

stretching exercise(stretching)group and needling plus stretching group(n=6 per group).The chronic myofascial pain(trigger point)model was established by freedom vertical fall of a wooden striking device onto the mid-point of gastrocnemius belly of the left hind-limb to induce contusion

followed by forcing the rat to make a continuous downgrade running exercise at a speed of 16 m/min for 90 min on the next day which was conducted once a week for 8 weeks.Electromyography(EMG)of the regional myofascial injured point was monitored and recorded using an EMG recorder via electrodes.It was considered success of the model if spontaneous electrical activities appeared in the injured site.After a 4 weeks' recovery

rats of the needling group were treated by filiform needle stimulation(lifting-thrusting-rotating)of the central part of the injured gastrocnemius belly(about 10 mm deep)for 6 min

and those of the stretching group treated by holding the rat's limb to make the hip and knee joints to an angle of about 180°

and the ankle-joint about 90°for 1 min every time

3 times altogether(with an interval of 1 min between every 2 times).The activity of the trigger point was estimated by the sample entropy of the EMG signal sequence in reference to Richman's and Moorman's methods to estimate the curative effect of both needling and exercise.Results After the modeling cycle

the mean sample entropies of EMG signals was significantly decreased in the model groups(needling group[0.034±0.010]

stretching group[0.045±0.023]

needling plus stretching group[0.047±0.034])relevant to the blank control group(0.985±0.196

P<0.01).After the treatment

the mean sample entropy of EMG signals was evidently increased in both needling(0.819±0.088)

stretching(0.532±0.25)and needling plus stretching(0.810±0.117)groups(P<0.01).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 in the mean sample entropy(P>0.05)

suggesting a better efficacy of dry needling in easing trigger point activity.Conclusion Dry needling is able to relieve myofascial trigger point activity in rats

which is better than that of simple passive stretching therapy.