• Rachel Bynum, Olivia Garcia, Emily Herbst, Mary Kossa, Katrina Liou, April Cowan, and Claudia Hilton.
• Rachel Bynum, MOT, OTR, is Graduate, Occupational Therapy Department, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
• Am J Occup Ther. 2021 Jan 1; 75 (1): 7501205030p1-7501205030p13.

ImportanceThis systematic review summarizes existing studies on dry needling for spasticity and range of motion (ROM) and discusses its potential for use as an occupational therapy intervention.ObjectiveTo examine existing studies on the effects of dry needling on spasticity and ROM.Data SourcesArticle citations and abstracts from Scopus, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, and a university library search.Study Selection And Data CollectionPreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used in abstracting data. Peer-reviewed journal articles published in English between January 2007 and June 2019 were searched. Of 270 identified studies, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were divided into categories on the basis of outcome measures (Modified Modified Ashworth Scale and ROM). Pain outcome measures were excluded because a systematic review addressing this outcome has recently been completed.FindingsStrong evidence was found to support the use of dry needling to decrease spasticity and increase ROM.Conclusions And RelevanceThis systematic review suggests that dry needling is an effective physical agent modality to decrease spasticity and increase ROM, both of which are potentially beneficial to functional outcomes.What This Article AddsThis article provides information that may be helpful in determining the appropriateness of dry needling as an occupational therapy intervention.Copyright © 2021 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.

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