Pain Relief Following Stripping Massage for Rhomboid Myofascial Trigger Points After Thoracoscopic Surgery

This study investigated the effects of stripping massage (SM) on myofascial trigger points in the rhomboid after thoracoscopic surgery. Sixty patients with chest pain after thoracoscopic surgery were randomized divided into two equal groups (A and B). Group A (n = 100) received conventional analgesics. Group B (n = 100) received SM twice daily in the active trigger points of the rhomboid for two weeks. The visual analogue scale, a pressure algometer, will be used to evaluate patients' pre- and post-treatment statuses.

This study will compare differences between the current traditional method (using analgesics) and the SM for rhomboid myofascial trigger points for post-thoracoscopic chest pain, and analyze the variables generated by the two different methods including demand time of analgesics, acceptance, and differences of visual analogue scale. The results of the study will use scientific data to prove which way is a good way to take into account of the relief of patient's chest pain.