<![CDATA[Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic pain and mobility limitations in adults and the elderly. Physiotherapy approaches continue to evolve, one of which is dry needling, which aims to reduce pain through trigger point modulation and improve mobility. However, scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of this intervention is still scattered and has not been comprehensively mapped. This study aims to map the scientific evidence regarding the role of dry needling in reducing pain and improving mobility in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This study used a scoping review design with reference to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A literature search was conducted in several electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria included studies examining the use of dry needling in patients with knee osteoarthritis, both randomized and non-randomized clinical trials. Extracted data included study characteristics, type of intervention, pain outcomes, and mobility. The search results indicate that dry needling has the potential to reduce pain intensity and improve mobility in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The therapeutic effect is thought to be related to pain modulation through neurophysiological mechanisms, increased local blood flow, and reduced myofascial trigger point activity. However, variations in intervention protocols and methodological limitations in some studies are of concern. Conclusion: Dry needling is a promising intervention in the management of knee osteoarthritis, particularly in reducing pain and improving mobility. However, further studies with more robust designs and consistent intervention standards are needed to strengthen the scientific evidence.]]>
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