The difference in the upper trapezius deep fascia slides between individuals with and without myofascial pain syndrome: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: MPS is a chronic disorder caused by myofascial trigger points, leading to pain and limited neck movements due to impacted fascia. Studies have reported reduced fascia slides in chronic low back pain, but limited fascia slides in MPS patients are still unreported. AIM: We determined differences in upper trapezius' deep fascia slides between MPS and non-MPS participants. METHODS: Between January-August 2019, participants from diverse work sectors were recruited in Manila. An expert physiotherapist diagnosed MPS, while non-MPS participants performed full painless cervical movements. Participants underwent upper trapezius deep fascia scans on both shoulders while performing six cervical movements. An HS1 Konica Minolta ultrasound recorded the data. Two blinded physiotherapists used Tracker 5.0 © 2018 to analyze videos and quantify deep fascia slides by measuring the distance between two x-axis points. The Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) assessed deep fascia slide differences in six active cervical movements. Pillai's Trace, with a range of 0-1 and a p-value of <0.05, was set. Effect sizes in individuals with and without MPS were calculated using Hedges' g and Cohen's d. RESULTS: Of the 327 participants (136 non-MPS, 191 MPS), 101 MPS participants had shoulder pain for <1 year and 103 experienced unilateral pain. The study examined 3800 ultrasound videos but found no significant difference in deep fascia slides across cervical movements between MPS and non-MPS groups (Pillai's Trace = 0.004, p = 0.94). Minor differences in deep fascia displacement were observed, with small effect sizes (g = 0.02-0.08). CONCLUSION: A limited deep fascia slide does not characterize MPS participants from non-MPS participants.

Association between myofascial trigger point therapy and conditioned pain modulation.

INTRODUCTION: Myofascial trigger point therapy (MTrP) is a widely used therapeutic approach, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Mechanisms discussed include peripheral involvement of muscles as well as central pain modulating processes such as the conditioned pain modulation (CPM). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the analgesic response of MTrP and the analgesic response of CPM correlate in asymptomatic participants in order to identify shared underlying mechanisms of MTrP and CPM. METHOD: Both, CPM and MTrP protocols consisted of heat-based test stimuli (heat pain thresholds before and after the intervention) and pressure-based (conditioning) stimuli. Asymptomatic participants (n = 94) were randomly assigned to receive either mild, intense or no pressure stimuli (between-group design) to both the fingernail and the MTrP of the infraspinatus muscle (within-group design). Pressure stimuli at both locations (fingernail, MTrP) were applied with a pressure algometer for 120 s and continuously adjusted to maintain a constant pain intensity of mild or intense pain. All thermal stimuli were applied on the lower leg with a thermal stimulator. RESULTS: A significant correlation was shown between the analgesic effect of CPM and MTrP therapy for mild (r = 0.53, p = 0.002) and intensive stimuli (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). 17.3% of the variance of the MTrP effect were explained by CPM after mild stimulation, and 47.1% after intense stimulation. Pain-related characteristics did not explain the variance within the analgesic response using a regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Between the analgesic responses following MTrP and CPM paradigms, a moderate to strong correlation was observed, suggesting shared underlying mechanisms.

Characteristics of patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the low back.

The objective of this study is to determine characteristics of patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) of the low back and the degree to which the low back pain in the patients examined can be attributed to MPS. Twenty-five subjects with myofascial trigger point(s) [MTrP(s)] on the low back participated in this cross-sectional study. The location, number, and type of selected MTrPs were identified by palpation and verified by ultrasound. Pain pressure threshold, physical function, and other self-reported outcomes were measured. Significant differences were found in Group 1 (Active), 2 (Latent), 3 (Atypical, no twitching but with spontaneous pain), and 4 (Atypical, no twitching and no spontaneous pain) of participants in the number of MTrPs, current pain, and worst pain in the past 24 h (p = .001-.01). There were interaction effects between spontaneous pain and twitching response on reports of physical function, current pain, and worst pain (p = .002-.04). Participants in Group 3 reported lower levels of physical function, and higher levels of current pain and worst pain compared to those in Group 4. Participants in Group 1 and 2 had similar levels of physical function, current pain, and worst pain. The number of MTrPs is most closely associated with the level of pain. Spontaneous pain report seems to be a decisive factor associated with poor physical function; however, twitching response is not.

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OBJECTIVES: To explore the therapeutic effect of Fu's subcutaneous needling at myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) on pain, lumbar mobility and the quality of life in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), so as to provide clinicians with new ideas and methods in treating LDH. METHODS: One hundred patients with LDH admitted to department of rehabilitation medicine of the affiliated hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to January 2023 were collected as the subjects, and they were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. In the observation group, the spreading technique of Fu's subcutaneous needling was delivered at MTrP. In the control group, the routine acupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL23), Weizhong (BL40) and MTrP. The treatment was given 3 times weekly, for 2 weeks in the two groups. The score of visual analogue scale (VAS) was evaluated before treatment, at the moment after the 1st treatment completion and after 2 weeks of treatment, separately, and the inclinometer was adopted to measure the range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar flexion, extension and lateral flexion. The numbers of MTrPs and their distribution were recorded before treatment and after the completion of a 2-week treatment in the two groups. Before treatment and in 4 weeks of follow-up, using SF-36 scale, the score of the quality of life was evaluated. The incidence of adverse effects was recorded. RESULTS: At the moment of the 1st treatment completion and after 2 weeks of treatment, VAS score and ROM of the lumbar region were significantly improved in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups and the improvement was superior in the observation group compared with the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). After 2 weeks of treatment, the total number of MTrPs and the counts of MTrPs in each muscle zone were reduced when compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). In the observation group, the total number of MTrPs and numbers of MTrPs in the zones of quadratus lumborum, musculi multifidus and musculi iliocostalis lumborum decreased significantly when compared with the control group (P<0.05), while the difference was not significant in the numbers in the zone of musculi glutaeus medius between the two groups. In 4 weeks of follow-up, the scores of SF-36 scale were improved in comparison with those before treatment in each group and the result in the observation was better (P<0.05). No any adverse events occurred during treatment in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fu's subcutaneous needling is effective for reducing the numbers of MTrPs and improving analgesia, ROM of the lumbar region, as well as the long-term quality of life in the patients with LDH.

Reliability of quantitative sensory testing on myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle of individuals with chronic neck pain.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the quantitative sensory testing for measuring the thermal pain threshold on myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle of individuals with chronic neck pain. METHODS: Thirty female participants were included, aged between 18 and 45 years and with bilateral myofascial trigger points, active and centrally located in the upper trapezius muscle. Two measurements with quantitative sensory testing were performed by each examiner at an interval of 1 week between them. RESULTS: We observed substantial reliability for the intra-rater analysis (intraclass correlation coefficient ranging between 0.876 and 0.896) and excellent reliability for the inter-rater analysis (intraclass correlation coefficient ranging between 0.917 and 0.954). CONCLUSION: The measurement of the thermal pain threshold on myofascial trigger points in individuals with chronic neck pain has acceptable reliability values, supporting the use of the quantitative sensory testing in the research setting and the clinical environment.

Reliability of quantitative sensory testing on myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle of individuals with chronic neck pain

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the quantitative sensory testing for measuring the thermal pain threshold on myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle of individuals with chronic neck pain. METHODS: Thirty female participants were included, aged between 18 and 45 years and with bilateral myofascial trigger points, active and centrally located in the upper trapezius muscle. Two measurements with quantitative sensory testing were performed by each examiner at an interval of 1 week between them. RESULTS: We observed substantial reliability for the intra-rater analysis (intraclass correlation coefficient ranging between 0.876 and 0.896) and excellent reliability for the inter-rater analysis (intraclass correlation coefficient ranging between 0.917 and 0.954). CONCLUSION: The measurement of the thermal pain threshold on myofascial trigger points in individuals with chronic neck pain has acceptable reliability values, supporting the use of the quantitative sensory testing in the research setting and the clinical environment.

Assessment of Myofascial Trigger Points via Imaging: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: This study systematically reviewed the published literature on the objective characterization of myofascial pain syndrome and myofascial trigger points using imaging methods. PubMed, Embase, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library databases were used, whereas citation searching was conducted in Scopus. Citations were restricted to those published in English and in peer-reviewed journals between 2000 and 2021. Of 1762 abstracts screened, 69 articles underwent full-text review, and 33 were included. Imaging data assessing myofascial trigger points or myofascial pain syndrome were extracted, and important qualitative and quantitative information on general study methodologies, study populations, sample sizes, and myofascial trigger point/myofascial pain syndrome evaluation were tabulated. Methodological quality of eligible studies was assessed based on the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies criteria. Biomechanical properties and blood flow of active and latent myofascial trigger points assessed via imaging were found to be quantifiably distinct from those of healthy tissue. Although these studies show promise, more studies are needed. Future studies should focus on assessing diagnostic test accuracy and testing the reproducibility of results to establish the best performing methods. Increasing methodological consistency would further motivate implementing imaging methods in larger clinical studies. Considering the evidence on efficacy, cost, ease of use and time constraints, ultrasound-based methods are currently the imaging modalities of choice for myofascial pain syndrome/myofascial trigger point assessment.

Patients with episodic migraine show increased T2 values of the trapezius muscles - an investigation by quantitative high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is frequent in patients with migraine. Likewise, evidence for inflammatory processes in the trapezius muscles is accumulating. However, non-invasive and objectively assessable correlates are missing in vivo. METHODS: Twenty-one subjects with episodic migraine (mean age: 24.6 ± 3.1 years, 18 females) and 22 controls (mean age: 23.0 ± 2.2 years, 17 females) without any history of headache prospectively underwent physical examination and quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of the trapezius muscles. A T2-prepared turbo spin-echo sequence was acquired for manual segmentation of the trapezius muscles and extraction of mean T2 values. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences regarding age, sex, body mass index, or number of myofascial trigger points (mTrPs) between groups. All patients with migraine presented with mTrPs in the trapezius muscles. T2 of the entire trapezius muscles was significantly higher in the migraine group when compared to controls (31.1 ± 0.8 ms vs. 30.1 ± 1.1 ms; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated T2 values of the trapezius muscles may indicate subtle inflammatory processes within musculature among patients with migraine because T2 increase is likely to stem from edematous changes. Future work may validate this finding in larger cohorts, but muscle T2 might have potential to develop into a viable in vivo biomarker for muscular affection in migraine.

Influence of quantified dry cupping on soft tissue compliance in athletes with myofascial pain syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a quantitative dry cupping system that can monitor negative pressure attenuation and soft tissue pull-up during cupping to quantify soft tissue compliance. METHODS: Baseball players with myofascial pain syndrome were recruited to validate the benefits of cupping therapy. Nine of 40 baseball players on the same team were diagnosed with trapezius myofascial pain syndrome; another nine players from the same team were recruited as controls. All participants received cupping with a negative pressure of 400 mmHg for 15 minutes each time, twice a week, for 4 weeks. Subjective perception was investigated using upper extremity function questionnaires, and soft tissue compliance was quantified objectively by the system. RESULTS: During the 15-minute cupping procedure, pressure attenuation in the normal group was significantly greater than that in the myofascial group (p = 0.017). The soft tissue compliance in the normal group was significantly higher than that in the myofascial group (p = 0.050). Moreover, a 4-week cupping intervention resulted in an obvious increase in soft tissue lift in the myofascial pain group (p = 0.027), although there was no statistical difference in the improvement of soft tissue compliance. Shoulder (p = 0.023) and upper extremity function (p = 0.008) were significantly improved in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This quantitative cupping monitoring system could immediately assess tissue compliance and facilitate the improvement of soft tissues after cupping therapy. Hence, it can be used in athletes to improve their functional recovery and maintain soft tissues health during the off-season period.

Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a regional pain disorder that affects every age-group and is characterized by the presence of trigger points (TrPs) within muscles or fascia. MPS is typically diagnosed via physical exam, and the general agreement for diagnostic criteria includes the presence of TrPs, pain upon palpation, a referred pain pattern, and a local twitch response. The prevalence of MPS among patients presenting to medical clinics due to pain ranges anywhere from 30 to 93%. This may be due to the lack of clear criteria and guidelines in diagnosing MPS. Despite the prevalence of MPS, its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. There are many different ways to manage and treat MPS. Some include exercise, TrP injections, medications, and other alternative therapies. More research is needed to form uniformly-accepted diagnostic criteria and treatments.

Interrater and Intrarater Reliability and Minimum Detectable Change of Ultrasound for Active Myofascial Trigger Points in Upper Trapezius Muscle in Individuals With Shoulder Pain.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the interrater and intrarater reliability of ultrasound and the minimum detectable change (MDC) for the trigger points (TrPs) active in the upper trapezius (UT) muscle in individuals with shoulder pain. METHODS: Forty individuals with shoulder pain were investigated for the presence of active TrPs in the UT muscle by means of ultrasound for the parameters of gray scale, muscle thickness of UT muscle at rest, and contraction and area of TrPs. The intrarater reliability was performed on 2 days, and interrater reliability on the same day. For the gray scale, the reliability was evaluated using the kappa coefficient (κ), while the other parameters were measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and MDC. RESULTS: For the gray scale, the intrarater agreement was almost perfect (κ = 1.00) and the interrater agreement was substantial (κ = 0.75). The intrarater and interrater reliability were excellent for most of the parameters, except for the area of TrPs (intrarater: ICC = 0.71, substantial; interrater: ICC = 0.52, substantial). The MDC for intrarater reliability varied between 0.04 and 0.05 (SEM% between 2.4% and 38.87%), and that for interrater reliability ranged from 0.05 to 0.07 (SEM% between 3.18% and 55.10%), with a higher value for area. CONCLUSION: Parameters such as gray scale, resting muscle thickness, and muscle contraction of the UT muscle, obtained through ultrasound, showed excellent intrarater and interrater reliability with low SEM%. The intrarater and interrater reliability for the area deserves a caveat regarding their use.

Ashi Acupuncture Versus Local Anesthetic Trigger Point Injections in the Treatment of Abdominal Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is defined as recurrent or continuous pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, non-menstrual or non-cyclic, lasting at least 6 months. There is strong evidence that up to 85% of patients with CPP have serious dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system, including abdominal myofascial syndrome (AMPS). AMPS is characterized as deep abdominal pain, originating from hyperirritable trigger points, usually located within a musculoskeletal range or its fascia of coating. In the literature, there are few studies that address AMPS. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the responses of ashi acupuncture treatment and local anesthetic injection in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain secondary to abdominal myofascial pain syndrome in women. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Tertiary University Hospital. METHODS: Women with a clinical diagnosis of CPP secondary to AMPS were randomized and evaluated using instruments to assess clinical pain, namely, the visual analogue scale (VAS), numerical categorial scale (NCS), and the McGill Questionnaire, after receiving treatment with ashi acupuncture (group A, n = 16) or local anesthetic injections (group B, n = 19). They were reevaluated after one week and one, 3, and 6 months after each treatment, in addition to assessments of pain and adverse events performed during the sessions. RESULTS: Ashi acupuncture and local anesthetic injections were both effective in reducing clinical pain assessed through the analyzed variables among study participants. There was no difference between the groups and there was a strong correlation between these pain assessment instruments. LIMITATIONS: The absence of blinding to the different forms of treatment among the patients and the researcher directly involved in the treatment, the absence of a placebo group, the selective exclusion of women with comorbidities and other causes of CPP, and the difference between the number of sessions used for each technique. CONCLUSION: Treatments with ashi acupuncture and local anesthetic injections were effective in reducing clinical pain in women with abdominal myofascial pain syndrome.

Efectividad de las técnicas invasivas y no invasivas en el tratamiento del síndrome del dolor miofascial a nivel cervical: revisión sistemática / Effectiveness of invasive and non-invasive tecniques for neck myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review

INTRODUCCIÓN: El dolor miofascial es una alteración muscular derivada de la presencia de uno o más puntos gatillo miofasciales y se considera una de las causas más frecuentes de dolor musculoesquelético y discapacidad. Se han estudiado técnicas invasivas y no invasivas para comparar su efectividad en el tratamiento del síndrome del dolor miofascial cervical. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: La búsqueda se ha realizado en la base de datos PubMed con la combinación de las palabras clave referentes al síndrome de dolor miofascial cervical y las técnicas de intervención, invasivas y no invasivas. Se procedió a hacer la selección valorando que tuvieran una antigüedad menor a 10 años y otros criterios de inclusión. De los 26 artículos seleccionados, se evaluaron los efectos a corto y a largo plazo de la intensidad del dolor, el umbral de dolor por presión, el rango de movimiento, la discapacidad cervical y la calidad de vida. RESULTADOS: Existen numerosas publicaciones sobre la disminución de la intensidad del dolor y el rango de movimiento, más de técnicas invasivas que de no invasivas, pero sobre el nivel de funcionalidad, la calidad de vida y el umbral de dolor, el número de publicaciones es inferior en ambos tipos de técnicas. CONCLUSIÓN: Tanto las técnicas invasivas como las no invasivas son favorables para el tratamiento del síndrome del dolor miofascial cervical, pero resulta difícil evidenciar cuáles lo son más debido a la gran heterogeneidad en los diferentes diseños de los estudios revisados

INTRODUCTION: Myofascial pain is a muscular alteration caused by one or more myofascial trigger points and is considered one of the most frequent musculoskeletal disorders. This study compared the effectiveness of invasive and non-invasive techniques in the treatment of neck myofascial pain syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search were performed in PubMed with a combination of key words related to myofascial pain syndrome and invasive and non-invasive therapies. Articles were included according to whether they were published less than 10 years previously and other inclusion criteria. Pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, range of movement, disability and quality of life were evaluated in the 26 articles finally selected. RESULTS: There are multiple publications on pain intensity reduction and range of movement. Reports of invasive techniques are more important than those of non-invasive techniques. However, there are only a few publications on threshold pressure pain, functionality and quality of life irrespective of the type of technique. CONCLUSION: Invasive and non-invasive techniques are effective in the treatment of neck myofascial pain syndrome, but it is difficult to conclude the superiority of one type of technique over the other due to multiple methodological differences among the evaluated studies

Can the Positional Release Technique Affect Central Sensitization in Patients With Chronic Tension-Type Headache? A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the positional release technique (PRT) affects central sensitization in patients with chronic tension-type headache (TTH). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. SETTING: Two university neurology clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=32) with TTH and myofascial trigger points (MTrP) in their cervical muscles. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in the PRT group received 10 treatment sessions for each of their MTrPs over the course of 5 weeks. All participants could use ibuprofen 200 mg for their headaches during the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was brain metabolite profile. The secondary outcome measures were headache frequency and intensity, McGill score, and pressure pain threshold (PPT), which were evaluated in each participant during 5 weeks with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, patients' self-reports, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, and a pressure algometer. RESULTS: Analysis of the data from 26 patients showed that headache frequency (P=.001), headache intensity (P=.002), McGill score (P=.003), and local PPT (P=.003) changed significantly after PRT. The myo-inositol/creatine concentration ratio in the somatosensory cortex (P=.041) decreased significantly in the control group. Furthermore, there were significant differences between groups in headache frequency (P<.001), headache intensity (P<.001), McGill score (P<.001), local PPT (P=.004), distal PPT (P=.041), and glutamate-glutamine/creatine concentration ratio in the thalamus (P=.014). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that PRT did not affect central sensitization in patients with TTH despite the improvement in clinical symptoms.

Tratamiento para la lumbalgia crónica mediante fisioterapia invasiva en el síndrome de dolor miofascial tras un ejercicio de alta intensidad. Informe de caso / Treatment for chronic low back pain through invasive physiotherapy in myofascial pain syndrome after a high intensity exercise. Case report

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: El dolor lumbar crónico es un patología prevalente en la población actual que se presenta en entre el 1,5 y 36% de las personas. Según la International Association for the Study of Pain, se define dolor como «una experiencia sensorial y emocional desagradable asociada con daño tisular real o potencial, o descrita en términos de dicho daño». El dolor lumbar puede asociarse al síndrome de dolor miofascial (SDM) causado por los puntos gatillo miofasciales (PGM). Este estudio pretende conocer la efectividad del tratamiento de los PGM de la musculatura a través de la punción seca profunda y por otro lado determinar si la praxis de los fisioterapeutas beneficia a los pacientes con un SDM en una patología de dolor lumbar crónico. DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CASO: Paciente varón, de 27 años de edad, que padece dolor en la zona paravertebral dorsal y lumbar, con una evolución de la patología de más de un año, que se intensifica en posiciones estáticas y mantenidas como la bipedestación y la sedestación. INTERVENCIÓN: Durante la intervención se efectuaron 2 sesiones. Se le realizó la punción seca profunda de los PGM que se detectaron y un seguimiento para conocer la sintomatología del paciente. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIÓN: La sintomatología del paciente mejora a través del tratamiento de la punción seca. Los resultados de este estudio demuestran la efectividad de la punción seca en el SDM en un paciente con dolor lumbar crónico. El tratamiento fisioterapéutico para los dolores lumbares crónicos puede estar encaminado en el abordaje de los PGM en un SDM, siendo la punción seca profunda una técnica de elección. Los estudios futuros deberían incluir una población mayor en el grupo muestral con una metodología controlada, aleatoria y con enmascaramiento para poder reducir los sesgos y obtener unos resultados con alta validez

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic low back pain is a prevalent pathology in the current population suffered by between 1.5% and 36%. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, pain is defined as ‘an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage’. Low back pain may be associated with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) caused by myofascial trigger points (MTP). This study aims to determine the effectiveness of treating the MTP of the musculature through dry needling and also to determine whether physiotherapist praxis could benefit patients with MPS in a pathology of chronic low back pain. CASE DESCRIPTION: Male patient, 27 years old, suffering pain in the paravertebral dorsal and lumbar area for more than one year, intensifying in static and maintained positions such as standing and sitting. INTERVENTION: During the intervention two sessions were held. Deep dry needling of detected MTP, and follow-up to determine the patient's symptoms. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The symptomatology of the patient improved through treatment by dry needling. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of dry needling in MPS in a patient with chronic low back pain. Physiotherapeutic treatment for chronic low back pain may be heading towards targeting MTP in a MPS, with deep dry puncture being a technique of choice. Future studies should include a larger population in the sample group with a controlled, randomized and blind methodology to reduce biases and obtain results with high validity

Effects of dry needling of active trigger points in the scalene muscles in individuals with mechanical neck pain: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of dry needling (DN) versus pressure release over scalene muscle trigger points (TrPs) on pain, related disability, and inspiratory vital capacity in individuals with neck pain. METHODS: In this randomized, single-blind trial, 30 patients with mechanical neck pain and active TrPs in the scalene musculature were randomly allocated to trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN; n = 15) or pressure release (n = 15) groups. The DN group received a single session of DN of active TrPs in the anterior scalene muscles, and the pressure release group received a single session of TrP pressure release over the same muscle lasting 30 s. The primary outcome was pain intensity as assessed by a numerical pain rate scale (NPRS, 0-10). Secondary outcomes included disability (neck disability index, NDI) and inspiratory vital capacity. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and 1 day (immediately post), 1 week, and 1 month after the treatment session. Data were expressed as mean score difference (Δ) and standardized mean difference (SMD). RESULTS: Patients receiving DN exhibited a greater decrease in pain intensity than those receiving TrP pressure release at 1 month (Δ 1.2 (95% CI-1.8, -0.6), p = 0.01), but not immediately (1 day) or 1 week after. Patients in the DN group exhibited a greater increase in inspiratory vital capacity at all follow-up time points (Δ 281 mm (95% CI 130, 432) immediately after, Δ 358 mm (95% CI 227, 489) 1 week after, and Δ 310 mm (95% CI 180, 440) 1 month after treatment) than those in the pressure release group (p = 0.006). Between-group effect sizes were large at all follow-up time points (1.1 > SMD > 1.3) in favor of DN. CONCLUSION: This trial suggests that a single session of DN over active TrPs in the scalene muscles could be effective at reducing pain and increasing inspiratory vital capacity in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Future studies are needed to further confirm these results.

Alleviation of migraine symptoms by application of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation to myofascial trigger points of neck and shoulder muscles - A randomized trial.

Migraine is a burdensome disease with an especially high prevalence in women between the age of 15 and 49 years. Non-pharmacological, non-invasive therapeutic methods to control symptoms are increasingly in demand to complement a multimodal intervention approach in migraine. Thirty-seven subjects (age: 25.0 ± 4.1 years; 36 females) diagnosed with high-frequency episodic migraine who presented at least one active myofascial trigger point (mTrP) in the trapezius muscles and at least one latent mTrP in the deltoid muscles bilaterally prospectively underwent six sessions of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) over two weeks. Patients were randomly assigned to receive rPMS applied to the mTrPs of the trapezius (n = 19) or deltoid muscles (n = 18). Whereas the trapezius muscle is supposed to be part of the trigemino-cervical complex (TCC) and, thus, involved in the pathophysiology of migraine, the deltoid muscle was not expected to interfere with the TCC and was therefore chosen as a control stimulation site. The headache calendar of the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG) as well as the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire were used to evaluate stimulation-related effects. Frequency of headache days decreased significantly in both the trapezius and the deltoid group after six sessions of rPMS (trapezius group: p = 0.005; deltoid group: p = 0.003). The MIDAS score decreased significantly from 29 to 13 points (p = 0.0004) in the trapezius and from 31 to 15 points (p = 0.002) in the deltoid group. Thus, rPMS applied to mTrPs of neck and shoulder muscles offers a promising approach to alleviate headache frequency and symptom burden. Future clinical trials are needed to examine more profoundly these effects, preferably using a sham-controlled setting.

The effects of dry needling on pain relief and functional balance in patients with sub-chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Pain relief is important both for the movement of patients suffering from low back pain and the quality of life. Dry needling is effective on myofascial trigger points but its effect on the area of pain and the functional balance is not fully known. OBJECTIVE: To examine the immediate effect of dry needling on pain and functional balance of patients suffering from low back pain. METHODS: Twenty five patients with sub-chronic low back pain were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention or control group. Needles were used for the participants of the intervention group, bilaterally at the spinus level, one and a half finger breath from the midline in levels L2-L5 of the lumbar spine. A third line of needles was inserted in the interspinosus spaces, except L5-S1 level. Bipedal stance, lateral loading and mediolateral body sway were assessed using a pair of force plates. Pain tolerance was assessed using an algometer. RESULTS: The pain tolerance significantly increased in the intervention group from (M = 4.87, SE 0.663) to (M = 6.52, SE 0.547) (F(1,23) = 7.8, p< 0.05) after intervention. During mediolateral body sway the force signal in the dominant frequency significantly increased in the intervention group from (M = 43.2, SE 4.6) to (M = 54,9, SE 3.6) (F(1,23) = 4.63, p< 0.05) after intervention, exhibiting more controlled rhythmic behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Dry needling in painful areas and penetrating all the muscle groups seems to improve pain and functional balance, yet its effect on specific muscles needs to be studied further.

Efficacy of Combination Therapies on Neck Pain and Muscle Tenderness in Male Patients with Upper Trapezius Active Myofascial Trigger Points.

Myofascial pain syndrome, thought to be the main cause of neck pain and shoulder muscle tenderness in the working population, is characterized by myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). This study aimed to examine the immediate and short-term effect of the combination of two therapeutic techniques for improving neck pain and muscle tenderness in male patients with upper trapezius active MTrPs. This study was a pretest-posttest single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Sixty male subjects with mechanical neck pain due to upper trapezius active MTrPs were recruited and randomly allocated into group A, which received muscle energy technique (MET) and ischemic compression technique (ICT) along with conventional intervention; group B, which received all the interventions of group A except ICT; and group C, which received conventional treatment only. Baseline (Pr), immediate postintervention (Po), and 2-week follow-up (Fo) measurements were made for all variables. Pain intensity and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS) and pressure threshold meter, respectively. All the three groups received their defined intervention plans only. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to perform intra- and intergroup analyses. Cohen's d test was used to assess the effect size of the applied interventions within the groups. The intergroup analysis revealed significant differences among groups A, B, and C in VAS and PPT at Po (VAS-Po: F = 13.88, p=0.0001; PPT-Po: F = 17.17, p=0.0001) and even after 2 weeks of follow-up (VAS-Fo: F = 222.35, p=0.0001; PPT-Fo: F = 147.70, p=0.0001). Cohen's d revealed a significant treatment effect size within all groups except group C (only significant for VAS-Po-VAS-Pr: mean difference = 1.33, p < 0.05, d = 1.09); however, it showed a maximum effect size in group A for its variables (VAS-Fo-VAS-Pr: mean difference = 5.27, p=0.01, d = 4.04; PPT-Fo-PPT-Pr: mean difference = 2.14, p < 0.01, d = 3.89). Combination therapies (MET plus ICT) showed immediate and short-term (2-week follow-up) improvements in neck pain and muscle tenderness in male patients with upper trapezius active MTrPs.

Comparison of Three Manual Therapy Techniques as Trigger Point Therapy for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to compare the efficacy of manual pressure release (MPR), strain counterstrain (SCS), and integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT) in the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Design: Single-blind, randomized, controlled pilot trial. Setting: Neurosurgery clinic. Subjects: Forty-eight patients (46 women; mean age, 35.47 ± 10.58 years) diagnosed chronic nonspecific LBP and who had at least one active myofascial trigger point (MTrP) in the quadratus lumborum, iliocostalis lumborum, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus muscles were included. Interventions: Patients received a standard home exercise program in addition to the MPR technique (MPR group), SCS technique (SCS group), and INIT (INIT group) for 12 sessions (2 days/week for 6 weeks). Outcome measures: The primary outcome was the visual analog scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes were MTrP examination, pressure pain threshold, lumbar active range of motion, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Beck depression inventory, and state-trait anxiety inventory. Results: There is no significant difference in terms of the percentage of deactivated MTrPs after 1st session and 12th session between groups (p > 0.05), but the percentage of deactivated MTrPs was less in MPR group than other groups. The overall group-by-time interaction for the repeated measures analysis of variance was not significant for primary and secondary outcomes (p > 0.05), but the improvement in the VAS-activity and the ODI was slightly better in the SCS group compared with other groups. Conclusions: These preliminary findings, which might help provide a glimpse into the clinical effectiveness of three manual therapy techniques (MPR, SCS, and INIT) rather than statistical significance, indicated that SCS or INIT might provide slightly better improvement in pain during activity, deactivation of MTrPs, and disability related to pain in chronic nonspecific LBP.