Treatment of myofascial pain

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound treatment and tri gger point injections in combination with neck-stretching exercises on myof ascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Design: Depression and anxiety associated with chronic pain were assessed u sing the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Sc ale (TMAS). The study population comprised 102 patients who had myofascial trigger points in one side of the upper trapezius. The patients were random ly assigned to one of three groups: group 1 received ultrasound therapy to trigger points in conjunction with neck-stretching exercises; group 2 recei ved trigger point injections and performed neck-stretching exercises; and g roup 3, the control group, performed neck-stretching exercises only. Treatm ent effectiveness was assessed using subjective pain intensity (PI) with a visual analog scale, pressure pain threshold (PT) with algometry, and range of motion (with a goniometer) of the upper trapezius muscle. Results: Compared with the control group, patients in groups I and 2 had a statistically significant reduction in PI, an increase in PT, and an increa se in range of motion. There were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups 1 and 2, Although not statistically significant, p atients in the control group had better results at the 3-mo follow-up. The BDI scores indicated depression in 22.9% of the patient, with 4,8% of the p atients having severe depression. High anxiety scores on the TMAS were pres ent in 89.3% of the patients. When BDI and TMAS scores were compared with P I or PT levels, no significant correlations were found, but when compared w ith pain duration before treatment, correlations were significant. Conclusions: Patients with myofascial pain syndrome had higher scores for a nxiety than for depression. When combined with neck stretching exercises, u ltrasound treatment and trigger point injections were found to be equally e ffective.