The effect of manual pressure release on myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle

Background:Â Â Non-specific neck pain has potential contributing factors. One of the factors being emphasized in the modern era is the Myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. These could be treated by strain counterstrain method whose effectiveness needs to be evaluated. Hence, the objective of the study was to compare the effects of conventional Physical therapy with or without strain counterstrain in patients with trigger points of upper trapezius muscle.Â Patients and MethodsIt is randomized controlled clinical trial.48 patients with treatment group A (24 patients) and control group B (24 patients).48 patients with treatment group A (24 patients) and control group B (24 patients).Patients with non-specific neck pain, having active myofascial trigger points in upper trapezius muscle presented to physical therapy department. Effects of interventions were recorded on neck disability index, visual analogue scale and cervical range of motion goniometer.Results of this study using repeated measure ANOVA demonstrated that within group from day 1 to 7, there was mean reduction of pain by 32.13 (26.99, 37.27) in conventional physical therapy group with Strain counterstrain group (group A) and conventional physical therapy only group (group B) by 12.62 (8.28, 16.96). Less significant improvement was seen within groups for day 1, 4 and 7 in cervical range of motion. There was significant improvement seen in pain, neck disability index and neck range of motions on day 7 between group A and B measured by independent sample t test.Conclusion:Â Â Conventional physical therapy with strain counterstrain was found effective in reducing pain, functional disability and improving range of motion at cervical region.

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Poster 101: The Biochemical Response Post Microdialysis Needle Insertion in Active, Latent, and Absent Myofascial Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Muscle

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1016/j.apmr.2007.06.459 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 88 (9) ◽

pp. E37-E38

Author(s):

Sagar S. Parikh ◽

Jay P. Shah ◽

Jerome Danoff ◽

Lynn H. Gerber ◽

Lynn Y. Nakamura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trapezius Muscle ◽

Trigger Points ◽

Needle Insertion ◽

Biochemical Response ◽

Myofascial Trigger Points ◽

Upper Trapezius ◽

Upper Trapezius Muscle ◽

Response Post

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Short-Term Effects of Kinesio Taping in the Treatment of Latent and Active Upper Trapezius Trigger Points: two Prospective, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trials

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-51146-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yolanda Noguera-Iturbe ◽

Javier Martínez-Gramage ◽

Francisco Javier Montañez-Aguilera ◽

José Casaña ◽

Juan Francisco Lisón

Keyword(s):

Trapezius Muscle ◽

Trigger Points ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Lateral Flexion ◽

Group Factor ◽

Short Term ◽

Myofascial Trigger Points ◽

Upper Trapezius ◽

Upper Trapezius Muscle

Abstract The presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal problems and may lead to limited professional activity. Among the various treatment methods proposed for MTrPs, Kinesio Taping (KT) is a non-invasive, painless, and less time-consuming method with fewer side effects that has become widely used as a therapeutic tool in a variety of prevention and rehabilitation protocols. The aim of the study was to evaluate the immediate and short-term efficacy of the space correction KT technique in patients with latent or active MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle. Two parallel randomized sham-controlled trials were simultaneously executed: in trial A, ninety-seven participants with latent MTrPs were randomly assigned to either the KT (n = 51) or sham (n = 46) group; in trial B, thirty-seven participants with active MTrPs were assigned to the KT (n = 20) or sham (n = 17) group. The primary outcome was pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the upper trapezius muscle, measured with algometry. Secondary outcomes included the active range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine (lateral flexion and rotation), measured with a cervical ROM goniometer. In each trial, two-way ANOVA tests were used to compare the study effects on the outcome measures between the groups, with time serving as the intra-group factor (baseline, immediately, and 72 h after the application) and the intervention type (KT and sham) as the between-group factor. At 72 h, participants receiving KT did not show significant differences in PPT (trial A: mean difference −1.8 N; 95% CI: [−8.1, 4.4], trial B: mean difference −1.2 N; 95% CI: [−7.4, 5.1]), cervical lateral flexion (trial A: mean difference 0.2 degrees; 95% CI: [−2.7, 3.1], trial B: mean difference −2.4 degrees; 95% CI: [−8.4, 3.6]), and cervical rotation (trial A: mean difference 3.7 degrees; 95% CI: [−0.1, 7.5], trial B: mean difference 1.4 degrees; 95% CI: [−5.7, 8.4]), compared to the sham groups. Thus, the results of this study do not support the use of the space correction KT technique to treat patients with latent or active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle.

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