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Analysis of institutional authors

Gomez-Costa, DiegoAuthorMolina-Alvarez, MiguelAuthorArribas-Romano, AlbertoAuthorFernández-Carnero, JosuéAuthor

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November 20, 2023
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Effectiveness of deep dry needling versus manual therapy in the treatment of myofascial temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Publicated to:Chiropractic And Manual Therapies. 31 (1): 46- - 2023-11-03 31(1), DOI: 10.1186/s12998-023-00489-x

Authors: Menendez-Torre, Angela; Pintado-Zugasti, Aitor Martin; Zaldivar, Juan Nicolas Cuenca; Garcia-Bermejo, Paula; Gomez-Costa, Diego; Molina-alvarez, Miguel; Arribas-Romano, Alberto; Fernandez-Carnero, Josue

Affiliations

CEU Univ, Univ San Pablo CEU, Fac Med, Dept Fisioterapia, Madrid 28008, Spain - Author
Ctr Med Gava, Serv Fisioterapia, Madrid 28600, Spain - Author
DINAMIA Clin Alfonso VI, Alcala De Henares 28806, Madrid, Spain - Author
Guadarrama Hosp, Rehabil Serv, Madrid, Spain - Author
Paz Hosp Inst Hlth Res, IdiPAZ, Madrid 28046, Spain - Author
Puerta Hierro Hlth Res Inst Segovia Arana IDIPHISA, Res Grp Nursing & Hlth Care, Madrid, Spain - Author
Rey Juan Carlos Univ, Fac Hlth Sci, Dept Nursing & Estomatol, Ave Atemas S-N, Alcorcon 28922, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Ctr Super Estudios Univ La Salle, Inst Neurosci & Sci Movement INCIMOV, Mot Brains Res Grp, Madrid 28023, Spain - Author
Univ Europea Madrid, Fac Sport Sci, Villaviciosa De Odon 28670, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Rey Juan Carlos Banco Santander, Grp Multidisciplinar Invest & Tratamiento Dolor, Grp Excelencia Invest URJC Banco Santander, Madrid 28032, Spain - Author
Univ Rey Juan Carlos, Dept Basic Hlth Sci, Unidad Asociada IDi Inst Quim Med IQM CSIC URJC, Area Pharmacol Nutr & Bromatol, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Rey Juan Carlos, Dept Phys Therapy Occupat Phys Med & Rehabil, Madrid 28922, Spain - Author
Univ Rey Juan Carlos, Escuela Int Doctorado, Dept Phys Therapy Occupat Therapy Rehabil & Phys, Alcorcon 28933, Spain - Author
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Abstract

BackgroundTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are the most common cause of orofacial pain of non-dental origin, with approximately 42% of diagnoses corresponding to myofascial pain. Manual therapy and dry needling are commonly used interventions for the treatment of myofascial temporomandibular disorders. However, it is unclear whether one of them could be superior to the other.ObjectivesThe aim of the present systematic review and network meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of manual therapy and dry needling in patients with myofascial TMD.MethodsThis is a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Randomized clinical trials were searched in the databases of Pubmed, PEDro, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Academic and EMBASE. The methodological quality of studies included in this review was judged using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. A frequentist network meta-analysis was carried out, assuming random effects, to estimate the effects of interventions for temporomandibular joint pain measured on a 10-point visual analogue scale.ResultsOut of 3190 records identified, 17 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis and eight were included in the network meta-analysis. Indirect comparisons between dry needling and manual therapy showed no significant differences in their effects on pain reduction (Odds Ratio [95%CI]; - 0.263 [- 1.517, 0.992]). The ranking of treatments shows that manual therapy (SUCRA = 0.932) followed by deep dry needling (SUCRA = 0.775) present the highest values of estimation and can be considered the most likely to reduce pain.ConclusionsThe results of the network meta-analysis should be considered with caution due to the low quality of the evidence available and the high variability of the study protocols in terms of the method of application of dry needling and manual therapy interventions.PROSPERO under identifier: (CRD42020186470).ConclusionsThe results of the network meta-analysis should be considered with caution due to the low quality of the evidence available and the high variability of the study protocols in terms of the method of application of dry needling and manual therapy interventions.PROSPERO under identifier: (CRD42020186470).

Keywords

Clinical effectivenessClinical-trialsComparative effectivenessCriteriaData baseDisease controlDry needlingEvidence based practiceExerciseHumanHumansManagementManipulationMeta analysisMeta-analysisMusculoskeletal manipulationMusculoskeletal manipulationsMyofascial painMyofascial pain syndromesNeck painNetwork meta-analysisPainPain syndromePedro scalePhysical therapy modalitiesQualitative analysisQualityQuality controlRandomized controlled trial (topic)ReviewSystematic reviewTemporomandibular disorderTemporomandibular joint disorderTemporomandibular joint disordersTrigger pointsVisual analog scale

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Chiropractic And Manual Therapies due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Chiropractics. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 3.78. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 3.48 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 8.15 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-20, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 9
  • Scopus: 8
  • Europe PMC: 3

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-20:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 76.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 109 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 2.2.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 3 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author () and Last Author (Fernández Carnero, Josué).