This study aimed to investigate the effects of myofascial release therapy (MRT) for improving pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), range of motion and pain in patients with mechanical neck pain (NP).
Fifty-four participants with NP were randomly allocated to either an MRT (five sessions) or a physical therapy (PT) groups (ten sessions) during two weeks. Multimodal PT program included: ultrasound therapy (US), transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) and massage. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), range of motion and (CROM) PPTs in sub-occipital and upper trapezius muscles were measured at baseline, at the end of treatment and at 1 month follow-up. T-tests and a repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance (RM-MANOVA) were used for VAS, CROM and PPTs, respectively.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
54
The MRT group was treated five times with several maneuvers. Each maneuver was performed once per session by slow and progressive application of a light force. The whole procedure lasted no more than 45 minutes. The treatment included four basic maneuvers. * Suboccipital induction * Posterior elongation of the cervical fascia in Supine position * Assisted cervical fascia * Myofascial induction of sternocleidomastoid
The PT group will treated during two weeks (ten days/week) with ultrasound therapy (US), transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) and massage, in this order. Ultrasound will applied in pulse mode at an intensity of 1 megahertz for 10 minutes in the sub-occipital region and the vicinity of the trapezius muscles. TENS will applied with a pulse duration of 250 microseconds at a frequency of 80 Hertz for 20 minutes in the sub-occipital region and the trapezoids. Deep massage was applied at a slow speed for 20 minutes using sliding neutral creams. Massage therapy included gliding and kneading techniques applied over trapezius (upper, lower and middle fibers), splenius capitis and levator scapulae muscles with a therapeutic intention.
Policlínica Santa maría
Cadiz, Cádiz, Spain
The intensity of cervical pain
A 10-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS; 0: no pain, 10: maximum pain) will be used to assess the patients' current level of cervical pain, and the worst and lowest level of pain experienced in the preceding week in the cervical area.
Time frame: Baseline
The intensity of cervical pain
A 10-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS; 0: no pain, 10: maximum pain) will be used to assess the patients' current level of cervical pain, and the worst and lowest level of pain experienced in the preceding week in the cervical area.
Time frame: Four weeks
The intensity of cervical pain
A 10-point Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS; 0: no pain, 10: maximum pain) will be used to assess the patients' current level of cervical pain, and the worst and lowest level of pain experienced in the preceding week in the cervical area.
Time frame: Eight weeks
Active cervical range of motion
Measured by goniometer type crom
Time frame: Baseline, four weeks and eight weeks
Pressure pain thresholds in cervical trigger points
Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) will be measured with a pressure algometer (Baseline, Pain TestTM, Wagner Instruments). The clinimetric properties of this instrument have been evaluated previously. The PPT will the point at which pressure elicited pain and will presented as kilograms per square centimeter. All measurements will be conducted by the same well-trained physician.
Time frame: Baseline, four weeks and eight weeks
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