Effectiveness of Dry Needling of the Tibialis Posterior for Control of the Medial Longitudinal Foot Arch

This study investigates the efficacy of dry needling of the tibialis posterior in enhancing control of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.Dry needling, a technique targeting trigger points within muscles, aims to alleviate pain and improve musculoskeletal function.Fifteen individuals volunteered for the study, with 12 meeting the participation criteria.Dry needling with electrical stimulation was administered unilaterally for 10 minutes to the tibialis posterior of the dominant leg, with the contralateral limb serving as a control.Pre and post dry needling, participants performed a short foot exercise during which plantar pressure distribution (surface area and load %) and arch height index (AHI) were evaluated.The results revealed significant reductions in surface area at the medial midfoot region and corresponding increases in AHI in the treatment limb post-dry needling.These changes were also significant when compared to the control limb.The tibialis posterior muscle is pivotal in maintaining the foot arch and dysfunction in this muscle can lead to biomechanical disturbances, affecting foot stability and gait mechanics.The findings of the present study indicate that dry needling, with its ability to elicit localized twitch responses and stimulate neurotransmitter release, may enhance neuromuscular function of the tibialis posterior.The findings suggest that dry needling of the tibialis posterior improves control of the medial longitudinal arch, potentially aiding in the management of foot posture disorders.Overall, the study highlights dry needling as a promising intervention for addressing tibialis posterior dysfunction and improving foot biomechanics.