Effects of Pressure Release of Myofascial Trigger Points on Mechanical Neck Pain.

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial; Myofacial Pain; Myofascial Pain Syndrome of Neck

Treatments: Other: Therapeutic exercise and postural hygiene; Other: Myofascial trigger points pressure release

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06051799

23/186-EC_X_Tesis

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study aims to compare the effectiveness of myofascial trigger point treatment using pressure release versus a control group in patients with mechanical neck pain, randomly assigned. In both groups a protocol of therapeutic exercise and postural correction will be carried out

Full description

With the present investigation it is wondered whether the choice of manual therapy techniques, specifically the pressure release of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles, provide significant benefits in combination with therapeutic exercise and postural hygiene (treatment group), as opposed to the unique application of therapeutic exercise and postural hygiene (control group), thus constituting a treatment of choice in patients with mechanical neck pain.

A treatment protocol of one session per week will be carried out, and a follow-up two weeks after the end of the treatment protocol.

If, as postulated, pressure release is more effective than the treatment received by the control group, the choice of this type of technique for myofascial pain syndrome would benefit a high percentage of people who often come asking for treatment in pain treatment centers. Pressure release provides a painless manual stimulus, thus effectively resolving the symptomatology of myofascial trigger points without the need for invasive treatments or medication, which may have more contraindications.

Enrollment: 104 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Subjects between 18 and 55 years of age in order to avoid degenerative phenomena.
• Have suffered from neck pain at least once in the last month.
• Active or latent myofascial trigger points in the Upper Trapezius and Sternocleidomastoid muscles.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with recent trauma (last 6 months) to the upper quadrant or spine.
• Patients with pathologies involving malignant neoplasms.
• Surgery on the trunk or upper limb in the last six months.
• Patients undergoing pharmacological or physiotherapy treatment at the time of the test.
• Pregnancy.
• No myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius or sternocleidomastoid muscles.
• Refusal to sign the consent form for the study or not being able to do so.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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104 participants in 2 patient groups

TREATMENT GROUP

Experimental group

Description:

The Pressure Release Technique will be applied. One session per week will be carried out for four weeks. It will be performed on as many trigger points as we find in each muscle associated with the study, leaving a record of them. Also adding postural hygiene and home exercise guidelines. A progression of exercises involving contraction of the deep neck flexor muscles Subjects will be taught to perform slow and controlled craniocervical flexion. It should be performed a minimum of once daily during the treatment regimen. A follow-up of the patients will be carried out with respect to home therapeutic exercise and postural hygiene guidelines.

Treatment:

Other: Myofascial trigger points pressure release

Other: Therapeutic exercise and postural hygiene

CONTROL

Active Comparator group

Description:

Postural hygiene guidelines will be given, as well as home therapeutic exercise (identical to the treatment group). About therapeutic exercise, a progression of exercises involving contraction of the deep neck flexor muscles shall be included in the first session. Subjects will be taught to perform slow and controlled craniocervical flexion. Subjects will then be trained to be able to progressively maintain craniocervical flexion through feedback from an air device (Stabilizer™, Chattanooga Group Inc., Chattanooga, TN) placed behind the neck. This sensor monitors the slight flattening of the cervical curve that occurs with contraction of the craniocervical deep flexor musculature. It should be performed a minimum of once daily during the treatment regimen. To this end, patients will be monitored and their understanding and correct follow-up of the treatment will be assessed in each face-to-face session per week, for four weeks, the same as in experimental group.

Treatment:

Other: Therapeutic exercise and postural hygiene