Brazilian Journal of Pain
https://brjp.org.br/article/doi/10.63231/2595-0118.202679-en
Brazilian Journal of Pain
Case Report

Effect of dry needling on myofascial trigger points of patients with somatosensory tinnitus. Case reports

Efeito do agulhamento seco nos pontos-gatilho miofasciais de pacientes com zumbido somatossensorial. Relatos de casos

Nicolly Fior De-Paulo; Priscila Brenner Hilgenberg-Sydney

http://dx.doi.org/10.63231/2595-0118.202679-en BrJP, vol.9, e202679, 2026
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Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Somatosensory tinnitus is often associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD), in which increased tension of the masticatory muscles or temporomandibular pain can modulate the perception of tinnitus. Proper treatment of TMD could, thus, relieve painful symptoms and tinnitus. In this sense, the present article aimed to report a case series of patients with TMD and somatosensory tinnitus who received treatment with the dry needling technique involving myofascial trigger points.

CASE REPORTS: Four women aged between 24 and 53 years described the presence of tinnitus and muscle pain in the temporomandibular region. The clinical evaluation for the somatosensory tinnitus diagnosis was carried out according to the latest consensus, and TMD was classified based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. All the patients received dry needling on the myofascial trigger points and complementary guidance. Patients were evaluated using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and numerical rating scales (NRS) for pain and tinnitus intensity. The THI variable and its emotional domain decreased significantly and progressively during treatment in 75% of cases. NRSs for pain and tinnitus also progressively decreased in 75% of the reported cases.

CONCLUSION: Dry needling combined with home care guidelines reduced tinnitus perception and myofascial pain in most patients, with improvements in THI and NRS scores. Differences in treatment response may reflect the multifactorial nature of tinnitus.

Keywords

Case reports; Dry needling; Facial pain; Temporomandibular joint disorders; Tinnitus; Trigger points

Resumo

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O zumbido somatossensorial está frequentemente associado à disfunção temporomandibular (DTM), na qual o aumento da tensão dos músculos mastigatórios ou a dor temporomandibular podem modular a percepção do zumbido. O tratamento adequado da DTM poderia, portanto, aliviar os sintomas dolorosos e o zumbido. Nesse sentido, o presente artigo teve como objetivo relatar uma série de casos de pacientes com DTM e zumbido somatossensorial que receberam tratamento com a técnica de agulhamento a seco envolvendo pontos-gatilho miofasciais.

RELATO DOS CASOS: Quatro mulheres com idades entre 24 e 53 anos descreveram a presença de zumbido e dor muscular na região temporomandibular. A avaliação clínica para o diagnóstico de zumbido somatossensorial foi realizada de acordo com o consenso mais recente, e a DTM foi classificada com base nos Critérios de Diagnóstico para Disfunções Temporomandibulares (DC/TMD). Todas as pacientes receberam agulhamento a seco nos pontos-gatilho miofasciais e orientações complementares. As pacientes foram avaliadas por meio do questionário Inventário do Handicap do Zumbido (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory - THI) e de escalas numéricas de avaliação (EN) para a intensidade da dor e do zumbido. A variável THI e seu domínio emocional diminuíram de forma significativa e progressiva durante o tratamento em 75% os casos. As ENs para dor e zumbido também diminuíram progressivamente em 75% dos casos relatados.

CONCLUSÃO: O agulhamento a seco combinado com orientações de cuidados domiciliares reduziu a percepção do zumbido e a dor miofascial na maioria das pacientes, com melhoras nos escores do THI e da EN. Diferenças na resposta ao tratamento podem refletir a natureza multifatorial do zumbido.

Palavras-chave

Agulhamento a seco; Dor facial; Pontos-gatilho; Relatos de casos; Transtornos da articulação temporomandibular; Zumbido

References

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Submitted date:
07/09/2025

Accepted date:
05/19/2026

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