Main Article Content
Abstract
This scoping review explores the current state of literature on exercise therapy in conjunction with dry needling for trigeminal neuralgia. Despite the recognized efficacy of exercise therapy and dry needling in various musculoskeletal conditions, their application for trigeminal neuralgia remains underexplored. The review underscores the urgent need for more extensive research, pointing out the limited number of articles identified. Recommendations for future studies include prioritizing larger sample sizes, adopting rigorous methodologies, and ensuring diverse participant populations to strengthen the evidence base. Diverse study designs, encompassing randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and qualitative research, are encouraged to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of exercise therapy with dry needling. Interdisciplinary collaboration involving neurologists, pain specialists, physical therapists, and researchers is deemed essential to design and implement effective exercise therapy protocols, acknowledging the complexity of trigeminal neuralgia. Long-term follow-up assessments are proposed to evaluate the sustained effects of interventions, contributing crucial insights for informing clinical practice. Emphasis on patient-centered outcomes, including pain intensity, quality of life, and patient satisfaction, is advocated to enhance the relevance and applicability of interventions. Limitations of the scoping review, such as the limited available literature, heterogeneity in study designs, publication bias, and variability in exercise protocols, are acknowledged. The importance of addressing safety concerns, especially when combining exercise therapy with dry needling, is highlighted. The review concludes with a call for future studies to address these recommendations and limitations, aiming for a more robust evidence base for the application of exercise therapy with dry needling in managing trigeminal neuralgia.