OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of adding transfer energy capacitive and resistive (TECAR) therapy to conventional therapy on patients' symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in the upper trapezius.

METHODS

Fifty patients with MPS in the upper trapezius were randomized into 2 groups. The intervention group received TECAR therapy (capacitive mode, 2 sessions weekly), and conventional treatment comprised of stretching exercise (9 times a day) and medication (acetaminophen and tizanidine) for 3 weeks, and the comparison group received conventional treatment (same as the intervention group) alone. The patients completed the Numeric Pain Scale, Neck Disability Index, and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index before, after, and 1 month after the treatment.

RESULTS

All variables were significantly reduced within both groups by time and treatment separately ( < .001), while a general comparison among the groups showed a significant reduction for all variables in the intervention group compared with the comparison group ( < .05) except for shoulder disability ( = .114). Moreover, the intervention group had better results compared with the comparison group based on the minimal clinically important difference.

CONCLUSION

A combination of TECAR therapy, exercise, and medication substantially reduced symptom severity for patients with MPS in the upper trapezius when compared to only exercise and medication.