The Effect of Prolotherapy and Dry Needling on Pain and Foot Functions in Hallux Valgus

Abstract

Aim: Hallux valgus is a common foot deformity that causes significant pain and functional impairment. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of prolotherapy and dry needling in treating mild to moderate hallux valgus pain. Material and Methods: Patients with hallux valgus deformity experiencing refractory pain after orthotic and analgesic treatment, and treated with prolotherapy (52 patients, 68 feet) or dry needling (49 patients, 57 feet) methods were included in the study. Each group received three treatment sessions at 3-week intervals. Clinical assessments were performed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores at baseline, in the third month, and twelfth month. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in VAS and AOFAS scores after treatment (p<0.001). In the prolotherapy group, the VAS score decreased from 6 (range, 4-8) in the pre-treatment period to 2 (range, 1-5) both in the third and twelfth months (p<0.001). In the dry needling group, the VAS score decreased from 6 (range, 4-7) in the pre-treatment period to 4 (range, 2-7) both in the third and twelfth months (p<0.001). While the AOFAS scores improved to 75 (range, 63-85) in the third month and 76 (range, 60-80) in the twelfth month in the prolotherapy group (p<0.001), improved to 56 (range, 44-75) in the third month and 50 (range, 36-75) in the twelfth month in the dry needling group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Both prolotherapy and dry needling effectively treat hallux valgus pain and improve foot function, with prolotherapy showing superior effectiveness.

Keywords

• conservative
• dry needling
• symptomatic hallux valgus
• pain
• Prolotherapy

Halluks Valgusta Proloterapi ve Kuru İğnelemenin Ağrı ve Ayak Fonksiyonları Üzerine Etkisi

Öz

Amaç: Halluks valgus, ayağın yaygın bir deformitesi olup önemli ağrı ve fonksiyonel bozukluğa neden olabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı hafif ve orta dereceli halluks valgus ağrısının tedavisinde proloterapi ve kuru iğnelemenin etkinliğini karşılaştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Ortez ve analjezik tedavi sonrası dirençli ağrı yaşayan halluks valgus deformitesi olan ve proloterapi (52 hasta, 68 ayak) veya kuru iğneleme (49 hasta, 57 ayak) ile tedavi edilen hastalar çalışmaya dahil edildi. Her grup 3 haftalık aralıklarla üç tedavi seansı aldı. Görsel analog skala (visual analog scale, VAS) ve Amerikan Ortopedik Ayak ve Ayak Bileği Derneği (American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, AOFAS) skorları kullanılarak klinik değerlendirmeler başlangıçta, üçüncü ayda ve on ikinci ayda yapıldı. Bulgular: Her iki grup da tedavi sonrası VAS ve AOFAS skorlarında anlamlı iyileşme gösterdi (p<0,001). Proloterapi grubunda, VAS skoru tedavi öncesi 6’dan (aralık, 4-8) hem üç ve hem de on ikinci aylarda 2’ye (aralık, 1-5) düştü (p<0,001). Kuru iğneleme grubunda, VAS skoru tedavi öncesi 6’dan (aralık, 4-7) hem üç ve hem de on ikinci aylarda 4’e (aralık, 2-7) düştü (p<0,001). AOFAS skorları, proloterapi grubunda, üçüncü ayda 75’e (aralık, 63-85) ve on ikinci ayda 76’ya (aralık, 60-80) yükselirken (p<0,001), kuru iğneleme grubunda üçüncü ayda 56’ya (aralık, 44-75) ve on ikinci ayda 50’ye (aralık, 36-75) yükseldi (p<0,001). Sonuç: Hem proloterapi hem de kuru iğneleme halluks valgus ağrısını etkili bir şekilde tedavi eder ve ayak fonksiyonunu iyileştirir, ancak proloterapi daha üstün sonuçlar gösterir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• konservatif
• kuru iğneleme
• semptomatik halluks valgus
• ağrı
• Proloterapi

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