Effect of Shock Wave Therapy on Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Adolescent Athletes

Cairo University (CU)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Treatments: Other: Designed physical therapy program; Other: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06845475

P.T.REC/012/005356

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on pain, neck range of motion, and functional activity in adolescent athletes.

Full description

Myofascial pain syndrome is a syndrome characterized by pain and accompanying muscle spasms, referred pain patterns, stiffness, and restricted range of motion caused by trigger points on constricted fibers of muscles and/or fasciae. Myofascial pain syndrome is the most common reason for back pain, shoulder pain, tension-type headaches, and regional pains such as facial pain.

Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are understood as the morphological correlate of the myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), an acute or chronic muscular pain condition affecting a single muscle or a group of muscles. Active MTrPs are spontaneously painful, while latent MTrPs are only painful upon pressure. MTrP stimulation can also cause referred pain and the characteristic local twitch response.

The main goal of MPS treatment is to break down the vicious circle of "spasm - pain - spasm" and release trigger points. Various physical therapy modalities such as trigger point injection, stretching-spray technique or ultrasound (US), heat packs and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), are used for the treatment of MPS. These modalities inactivate the trigger point with their thermal and mechanical effects.

Due to the lack of research area of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on myofascial pain syndrome on upper trapezius in adolescents' athletes, so the purpose of the study is to know impact of the extracorporeal shock wave therapy on myofascial pain syndrome on upper trapezius in adolescents' athletes.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age ranges from 14 to 18 years.
• All adolescents have regional pain complaint.
• Tenderness in cervical trigger points in the midpoint of the upper border of the trapezius muscle, from grade 2 to grade 4 according to the tenderness grading scheme (Hubbard, 1993) (Appendix II).
• Palpation of a trigger point elicits a stereotypic zone of referred pain specific to that muscle.
• Identification of a palpable taut band, as well as a palpable, and exquisitely tender spot along the length of that taut band.
• All adolescents are allowed to practice their regular sports activities.

Exclusion criteria

• Dermatological disorders.
• Having myofascial trigger points injection.
• Chronic pain in both sides of the body.
• History of findings of cervical injury whether orthopedic or soft tissue injury.
• Analgesic drugs or NSAIDs during the treatment period.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Designed physical therapy program

Active Comparator group

Description:

It will consist of 20 adolescents, who will receive a designed physical therapy program for the treatment of Myofascial pain syndrome.

Treatment:

Other: Designed physical therapy program

Designed physical therapy program + Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

Experimental group

Description:

It will consist of 20 adolescents, who will receive the same designed physical therapy program in addition to extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).

Treatment:

Other: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

Other: Designed physical therapy program