In the treatment of trigger points for persons with myofascial pain syndrome, dry needling is an invasive procedure in which a filiform needle is inserted into the skin and muscle directly at a myofascial trigger point. A myofascial trigger point consists of multiple contraction knots, which are related to the production and maintenance of the pain cycle.

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針灸就是以各種針具或灸料刺激體表部位 (穴位, acu-point)，以引起機體適當反應而達到防治目的。