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Clinical Trials/NCT01709357
NCT01709357
Completed
Not Applicable

Short and Medium-term Effects of Manual Therapy on Latent Myofascial Pain : a Comparative Study

Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto1 site in 1 country117 target enrollmentSeptember 2011

Overview

Phase
Not Applicable
Intervention
Not specified
Conditions
Latent Myofascial Trigger Point of Upper Trapezius Muscle
Sponsor
Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto
Enrollment
117
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Change from Baseline in Pressure pain threshold at 10 minutes after the intervention
Status
Completed
Last Updated
13 years ago

Overview

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the short and medium-term effects of three manual techniques on cervical range of motion and pressure pain sensitivity in subjects with mechanical stress, presenting latent trigger point of upper trapezius muscle.

Detailed Description

Myofascial pain syndrome is a common non-articular musculoskeletal chronic pain which has not been yet fully understood. It is characterized by myofascial trigger point. This trigger point is clinically classified as active or latent. Some studies have demonstrated the potential relevance of latent trigger point. In fact, its presence may cause muscle activation pattern alterations, increase nociceptive sensitivity and cause sympathetic activity alterations. Nevertheless, the vast majority of individuals, even asymptomatic, have latent trigger point. High prevalence of myofascial trigger points subsists at cervical and scapular regions. There is few data regarding myofascial trigger point physiopathology. Furthermore, a diversity of therapeutic interventions consisting of trigger point inactivation and interruption of the vicious cycle is suggested in literature. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these different interventions in trigger points and the duration of the effects are not yet fully clarified.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
September 2011
End Date
March 2012
Last Updated
13 years ago
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Parallel
Sex
All

Investigators

Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Natália Maria Oliveira Campelo

Professor

Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • volunteers with 18 or more years of age
  • with a palpable latent trigger point in the fibbers of the upper trapezius muscle
  • with an average time of computer work of at least 2h/day.

Exclusion Criteria

  • with a body mass index (BMI) equal or higher than 31 kg/cm2
  • with bilateral latent triggers in the fibers of the upper trapezius muscle
  • have done any pharmacological therapeutic during any of the 7 days before the study or anti-coagulant therapeutics
  • have done any treatment at cervical region during the month before the study
  • having cardio-respiratory, neurological, neuro-musculoskeletal, oncologic or systemic pathologies
  • having cognitive deficits or psychologic/psychiatric disturbances
  • be pregnant
  • having a clinical history of cervical, high dorsal, shoulder or cranial surgery or trauma during the prior 12 months.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change from Baseline in Pressure pain threshold at 10 minutes after the intervention

Time Frame: 10 minutes after the intervention

To obtain the pressure pain threshold measurements, an electronic pressure algometer was used. With the subject seated, the evaluator placed the pointer on the trigger pint with an approximate angle of 90º and an increasing pressure of approximately 1 kg/cm²/s. Subjects were told to use the word "now" whenever the sensation of pressure was replaced by a sensation of pain. At this point, the evaluator removed the algometer and the equipment recorded the maximum applied pressure.

Change from Baseline in Pressure pain threshold at 24 hours after the intervention

Time Frame: 24 hours after the intervention

To obtain the pressure pain threshold measurements, an electronic pressure algometer was used. With the subject seated, the evaluator placed the pointer on the trigger pint with an approximate angle of 90º and an increasing pressure of approximately 1 kg/cm²/s. Subjects were told to use the word "now" whenever the sensation of pressure was replaced by a sensation of pain. At this point, the evaluator removed the algometer and the equipment recorded the maximum applied pressure.

Change from Baseline in Pressure pain threshold at one week after the intervention

Time Frame: one week after the intervention

To obtain the pressure pain threshold measurements, an electronic pressure algometer was used. With the subject seated, the evaluator placed the pointer on the trigger pint with an approximate angle of 90º and an increasing pressure of approximately 1 kg/cm²/s. Subjects were told to use the word "now" whenever the sensation of pressure was replaced by a sensation of pain. At this point, the evaluator removed the algometer and the equipment recorded the maximum applied pressure.

Secondary Outcomes

  • Change from Baseline in Cervical side flexion (contra-lateral of trigger point) at 24 hours after the intervention(24 hours after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical flexion at 10 minutes after the intervention(10 minutes after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical extension at 10 minutes after the intervention(10 minutes after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical side flexion (homo-lateral of trigger point) at 10 minutes after the intervention(10 minutes after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical rotation (homo-lateral of trigger point) at 10 minutes after the intervention(10 minutes after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical side flexion (contra-lateral of trigger point) at 10 minutes after the intervention(10 minutes after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical rotation (contra-lateral of trigger point) at 10 minutes after the intervention(10 minutes after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Pressure pain perception at 10 minutes after the intervention(10 minutes after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical flexion at 24 hours after the intervention(24 hours after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical extension at 24 hours after the intervention(24 hours after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical side flexion (homo-lateral of trigger point) at 24 hours after the intervention(24 hours after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical rotation (homo-lateral of trigger point) at 24 hours after the intervention(24 hours after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical rotation (contra-lateral of trigger point) at 24 hours after the intervention(24 hours after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Pressure pain perception at 24 hours after the intervention(24 hours after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical flexion at one week after the intervention(one week after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical extension at one week after the intervention(one week after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical side flexion (homo-lateral of trigger point) at one week after the intervention(one week after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical rotation (homo-lateral of trigger point) at one week after the intervention(one week after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical side flexion (contra-lateral of trigger point) at one week after the intervention(one week after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Cervical rotation (contra-lateral of trigger point) at one week after the intervention(one week after the intervention)
  • Change from Baseline in Pressure pain perception at one week after the intervention(one week after the intervention)

Study Sites (1)

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