Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

1) Status post RCR surgery

2) Aged between 40 and 75 years

3) Experiencing shoulder pain after 5 weeks of surgery

4) Presence of active MTrPs in shoulder girdle muscles’ palpation

1) Phobia of needle

2) History of coagulation disorders and intake of anticoagulants

3) History of head and neck surgery

4) Radiculopathy and myelopathy disorders

5) Pregnancy,

6) No active MTrPs were found