Effectiveness of active soft tissue release and trigger point block for the diagnosis and treatment of low back and leg pain of predominantly gluteus medius origin: a report of 115 cases.

[Purpose] Ineffective and prolonged treatment of low back pain is a major social problem resulting in a huge economic burden. The effectiveness of back pain and/or leg pain treatment using active soft tissue release alone or in combination with a trigger point block was examined. [Participants and Methods] Among 115 patients who underwent medical examination at Senshunkai Hospital during the study period, information on treatment outcomes using active soft tissue release alone or in combination with a trigger point block, location of myofascial trigger points, and duration of treatment were extracted for patients with low back pain, leg pain, or low back pain with leg pain. [Results] Myofascial pain syndrome was diagnosed in 73.4% (36/49) in the low back pain group, 50% (16/32) in the leg pain group, and 85.3% (29/34) in the low back pain with leg pain group. Symptom improvement was noted in all three groups with active soft tissue release alone (90.9%, 20/22; 90.0%, 9/10; and 100%, 14/14, respectively) and active soft tissue release + a trigger point block (90.9%, 10/11; 100%, 1/1; and 92.9%, 13/14, respectively). The gluteus medius was the major myofascial trigger point in all groups. [Conclusion] Manual therapy with active soft tissue release and a trigger point block constitutes an effective treatment combination for low back pain and leg pain, but prolonged treatment is required in chronic cases.