Ahmed H, Jarrar M A, Ahmed R, Alqhtani R, Alshahrani A
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, KSA.
Niger J Clin Pract. 2020 Dec;23(12):1660-1666. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_6_20.
The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of post-isometric relaxation and LASER treatment in minimizing pain and increasing neck range of motion and function in people with upper Trapezius trigger point pain.
A total of 45 participants with upper Trapezius trigger point pain were studied. All the participants were randomly assigned into three equal groups (post-isometric relaxation, LASER, and Control) to receive the respective treatments for 1 week. The pressure threshold meter was used to assess the pain-pressure sensitivity of myofascial trigger point pain. Pain intensity and cervical range of motion were measured using the visual analogue scale and cervical goniometry, respectively. The neck disability index was used to assess neck function.
The results of within group analysis indicate significant changes in all the outcomes in three groups (All groups, P = 0.001) except an insignificant improvement of pain pressure threshold in the control group (P = 0.069). Additionally, there were significant differences noted among three groups on pain-pressure threshold and visual analogue scale scores at posttest day 1, day 5, and day 12 (all P = 0.001). However, there was non-significant improvements of neck disability index and side flexion on both sides noted at all timelines except (all P > 0.05), a significant improvement at posttest day 5 (P = 0.015) among three groups.
Both PIR and LASER treatment have been effective in reducing pain-pressure threshold and pain intensity in the management of muscle trigger point pain. Long-term studies are warranted to further validate the effectiveness of these modalities in the management of upper Trapezius trigger point pain.
本研究旨在确定等长收缩后放松和激光治疗在减轻上斜方肌触发点疼痛患者的疼痛、增加颈部活动范围和功能方面的有效性。
共研究了45名患有上斜方肌触发点疼痛的参与者。所有参与者被随机分为三组（等长收缩后放松组、激光组和对照组），每组人数相等，接受相应治疗1周。使用压力阈值仪评估肌筋膜触发点疼痛的痛压敏感性。分别使用视觉模拟量表和颈椎测角法测量疼痛强度和颈椎活动范围。使用颈部功能障碍指数评估颈部功能。
组内分析结果表明，三组所有结果均有显著变化（所有组，P = 0.001），但对照组的痛压阈值改善不显著（P = 0.069）。此外，在测试后第1天、第5天和第12天，三组在痛压阈值和视觉模拟量表评分上存在显著差异（所有P = 0.001）。然而，除测试后第5天有显著改善（P = 0.015）外，在所有时间点，三组的颈部功能障碍指数和两侧侧屈的改善均不显著（所有P > 0.05）。
等长收缩后放松和激光治疗在减轻肌肉触发点疼痛方面均能有效降低痛压阈值和疼痛强度。有必要进行长期研究，以进一步验证这些方法在上斜方肌触发点疼痛管理中的有效性。
