Time Effect of the Pressure Release Technique Application in the Latent Myofascial Trigger Points

Time Effect of the Pressure Release Technique Application in the Latent Myofascial Trigger Points of the Levator Scapulae

Background: Latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) of the levator scapulae are high prevalent and may influence the neck and shoulder conditions. The pressure release is one of the most recommended manual therapy techniques.

Objective: To determine the time effect of the pressure release technique application in the latent MTrPs of the levator scapulae muscle.

Design: A three-arm (1:1:1 ratio), double-blinded, parallel, randomized clinical trial.

The manual technique than us apply, be sustained digital pressure with thumbs or with the 2nd-3rd fingers on the PGM below the pain threshold and gradually increases up to a ceiling of tissue resistance (barrier), as decreases, adds more pressure. different times of sustained pressure and the number of repetitions depending on time 30 (group 1, acts as a control), 60 (group 2) and 90 seconds (group 3) shall apply.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Myofascial Pain Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Pressure release 90; Other: Pressure release 60; Other: Pressure release 30

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Madrid
    • Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain, 28871
      • Grupo Fisioterapia y Dolor

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with aged between 18 and 60 years.
• Subjects with presence of latent PGM levator scapulae muscle.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant.
• Subjects with spontaneous pain.
• Subjects with neck or shoulder pain.
• Subjects with musculoskeletal injuries.
• Subjects with neurological problems.
• Fibromyalgia

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Application 90 minutes pressure release; Subjects will receive a pressure release technique for 90 seconds in the levator scapula muscle	Other: Pressure release 90; This is a massage technique that aims is eliminate myofascial trigger points for to treat muscle pain.; Other Names: soft tissue massage; Compression ischemic massage technique
Experimental: Application 60 minutes pressure release; Subjects will receive a pressure release technique for 60 seconds in the levator scapula muscle	Other: Pressure release 60; This is a massage technique that aims is eliminate myofascial trigger points for to treat muscle pain.; Other Names: soft tissue massage; Compression ischemic massage technique
Experimental: Application 30 minutes pressure release; Subjects will receive a pressure release technique for 30 seconds in the levator scapula muscle	Other: Pressure release 30; This is a massage technique that aims is eliminate myofascial trigger points for to treat muscle pain.; Other Names: soft tissue massage; Compression ischemic massage technique

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain pressure threshold (PPT)	PPT is defined as the minimal amount of pressure that produce pain. The investigators will measure the muscle levator scapular tenderness.	Change from Baseline PPT at one week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Strength muscle	The investigators will measure strength muscle with a handheld dynamometer. the subject will have to perform a movement of cervical extension resistance against.	Change from Baseline strength muscle at one week

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Range of cervical mobility	The range of cervical mobility will has measure with cervical goniometer	Change from Baseline range of cervical mobility at one week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Alcala
• Investigators: Study Director: Daniel Pecos-Martin, Doctor, Alcalá University (Physical Therapy and pain group)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Pecos-Martin D, Ponce-Castro MJ, Jimenez-Rejano JJ, Nunez-Nagy S, Calvo-Lobo C, Gallego-Izquierdo T. Immediate effects of variable durations of pressure release technique on latent myofascial trigger points of the levator scapulae: a double-blinded randomised clinical trial. Acupunct Med. 2019 Jun;37(3):141-150. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2018-011738. Epub 2019 May 7.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 20, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): July 10, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 27, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 28, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): December 30, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 4, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2017
• Last Verified: October 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Myofascial Trigger Points; Liberation for Pression; Therapy Soft Tissue
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Fibromyalgia; Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: Universidad de Alcalá

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No