Variable	Categories	Number of patches	Mean ± SD	Z	p value
Patch size (cm²)	Before needling	41	13.78 ± 17.57	−2.226	<0.001^**
Patch size (cm²)	2 weeks after needling	41	13.61 ± 17.48	−2.226	<0.001^**
Patch size (cm²)	Before needling	41	13.78 ± 17.57	−4.034	<0.001^**
Patch size (cm²)	2 months after needling	41	12.20 ± 15.68	−4.034	<0.001^**
Patch size (cm²)	Before needling	41	13.78 ± 17.57	−4.03	<0.001^**
Patch size (cm²)	4 months after needling	41	12.01±15.55	−4.03	<0.001^**