Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Versus Trigger Points Release on Upper Trapezius Trigger Points

Riphah International University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Trigger Points

Treatments: Other: Soft tissue release technique; Other: Comparator: Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05249660

REC/RCR&AH/21/0129/TAUSEEF

Details and patient eligibility

About

Study will be randomized clinical trial. Data will be collected from non probability consecutive sampling technique. Total 30 participants from Ganga Ram Hospital and Care medical centre will be selected and randomly allocated to two different groups i.e Group A and Group B. . Group A will be treated by trigger point release. Group B will be treated by Instrument assisted soft tissue release. NPRS, GONIOMETRY, NDI will be used as outcome measuring tool before and after treatment. Data will be analyzed by using Statistical package for social sciences 25.

Full description

Trigger point is defined as a hyperirritable palpable nodule contained in the skeletal muscle fibers. The palpable nodule, also named taut band, is described as a limited number of fibers with an increased stiffness. Trp causes the muscles to week and stiff, leading to reduction in range of movement. MTrP can produce local and referred pain, either on manual compression or spontaneously.

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is the use of hard tools to manipulate soft tissue and was derived from the Cyriax1 cross-friction massage. It has recently emerged as a popular alternative to traditional manual therapy techniques. Modern-day IASTM instruments vary in material (e.g. stainless steel, plastic) and design and are used to improve a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and associated outcomes.

Manual technique that uses direct vertical pressure to the TP, is a well-established treatment method used to resolve the TP-related pain syndrome. This directed pressure is managed according to the therapist's perception of the tissue resistance of the treated soft tissue or according to the pain perceived by the patient based on a pain scale. Manual therapy is a commonly used treatment for MPS as it has been considered one of the most effective techniques for the inactivation of MTrPs.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with neck pain in the upper trapezius muscle
• Tender nodule, constant pain, a jump sign during palpation will be included in this study

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with Whiplash injury
• History of neck/shoulder surgery
• Cervical Radiculopathy
• History of malignancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

30 participants in 2 patient groups

Soft tissue release technique

Experimental group

Description:

Patient sat on a chair. The therapist stood behind the participant and held one hand over head as the support, with the thumb of the other hand scan to detect the painful area of the latent TP of the upper trapezius muscle along the fibers. Then, pressure was applied by the thumb and the participant was asked to simultaneously actively change the muscle from shorted position to elongated state (ipsilateral side flexion of the cervical to the opposite side). This technique was repeated 3-5 times per session, and each repetition was maintained for 40-60 s till release is felt, with a 15-second rest interval. Three times passive stretching of the upper trapezius muscle was also performed for 45 s for each side.

Treatment:

Other: Soft tissue release technique

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patient lied prone; the treatment was applied for approximately 20-seconds in a direction parallel to the muscle fibers with the instrument at a 45º angle. Followed immediately by treating the muscles in a direction perpendicular to the muscle fibers with the instrument at a 45º angle for an additional 20-second, resulting in a total treatment time of approximately 40 s. This technique was applied 3-5 times per session with 20 s rest between each time. Three times passive stretching of the upper trapezius muscle was also performed for 45 s for each side.

Treatment:

Other: Comparator: Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization