Comparison of High Power Pain Threshold Ultrasound and Ischemic Compression Techniques for Treatment of Trigger Points

Comparison of High Power Pain Threshold Ultrasound and Ischemic Compression Techniques for the Treatment of Latent Myofascial Trigger Points: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of ischemic compression and two different application methods of high power pain threshold ultrasound techniques on latent trigger point treatment. Asymptomatic subjects divided into three groups. First group took high power pain threshold ultrasound in which the intensity is kept constant at the pain level; second group took high power pain threshold ultrasound which the intensity is kept constant at half the pain level and third group took ischemic compression. All participants were asked to complete the questionnaires, which assessed pain, psychological factors and disability before treatment, after 1 week and 1 month follow-up. After each participants completed the questionnaire, the physical therapist evaluated the MTrPs. MTrPs assessment was performed before treatment, immediately after treatment, after 1 week and 1 month follow-up.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: high power pain threshold ultrasound which the dose was kept constant; Other: high power pain threshold ultrasound which the dose reduced to one half; Other: ischemic compression

Detailed Description

Myofascial trigger points have been defined as discrete and hyperirritable areas located within a taut band of skeletal muscle or fascia which when compressed produce pain, tenderness, dysfunction and autonomic phenomena. The treatment techniques aimed to return the fiber groups affected by myofascial trigger points to their normal length and endplates to their normal function. Although both ischemic compression and two different application methods of high power pain threshold ultrasound techniques are effective methods in the treatment of trigger points , there are no studies showing which technique is more effective. It is aimed to to compare the efficacy of ischemic compression and two different application methods of high power pain threshold ultrasound techniques on myofascial trigger point treatment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 153
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Halit Aydın Kampüsü No:38 Küçükçekmece
    • Istanbul, Halit Aydın Kampüsü No:38 Küçükçekmece, Turkey
      • Istanbul Aydın University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. being aged between 18-50
2. the presence of a minimum of 3 latent trigger points in Upper Trapezius, Levator Scapulae, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Deltoid Anterior, Pectoralis Major, Pectoralis Minor muscles
3. no health problems
4. signed the voluntary consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

1. have a neck, spine or shoulder injury in the last 6 months
2. continued neck and back pain in the last 6 months
3. having a skin disease that may affect upper extremity assessment
4. malign and benign tumors
5. pain relief medication
6. having psychiatric treatment. -

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: high power pain threshold ultrasound which the dose was kept constant group (HPPT-US 1); Participants in HPPT-US 1 group received one session of HPPT-US treatment which the dose was kept constant. The technique delivers sound waves directly to the myofascial trigger points and results in immediate pain relief.	Other: high power pain threshold ultrasound which the dose was kept constant; Participants in HPPT-US 1 group received the HPPT-US treatment. The intensity was gradually increased from 0.5 W/cm² to the pain threshold level at which the patient verbally reported the pain. The therapist kept the intensity at that level for 5 s, and then moved the US transducer in a circle without the change of the intensity for 15 s. The procedure was repeated 3 times. The patients were asked whether serious pain or any abnormal sensation was felt during HPPT-US. The intensity was varied from 0.5 to 1.2 W/ cm².
Experimental: high power pain threshold ultrasound which the dose reduced to one half group (HPPT-US 2); Participants in HPPT-US 2 group received one session of HPPT-US treatment which the dose reduced to one half. The technique delivers sound waves directly to the myofascial trigger points and results in immediate pain relief.	Other: high power pain threshold ultrasound which the dose reduced to one half; Participants in HPPT-US 2 group also received the HPPT-US treatment. The intensity was gradually increased from 0.5 W/cm² to the pain threshold level at which the patient verbally reported the pain. The therapist kept the intensity at that level for 5 s, then reduced the dose half and moved the US transducer in a circle for 15 s. The procedure was repeated 3 times. The patients were asked whether serious pain or any abnormal sensation was felt during HPPT-US. The intensity was varied from 0.5 to 1.2 W/ cm².
Experimental: ischemic compression group; Participants in IC group received one session of ischemic compression therapy. Ischemic compression is a therapy technique used in manual therapy, where blockage of blood in an area of the body is deliberately made, so that a resurgence of local blood flow will occur upon release.	Other: ischemic compression; Participants in IC group received ischemic compression therapy. The technique was applied in the sitting position to participants. Ischemic compression was performed by compressing trigger points identified by palpation with tolerable intensity using thumb. The duration for each trigger points was 1 minute. Then the muscle containing the trigger point was applied intramuscular stretching for 30 seconds by therapist

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain intensity	Pain intensity is of valuable diagnostic information, and we ask patients to evaluate how strong their pain feels	Pain intensity was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) before the treatment (0-10 numeric pain rating scale, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 severe pain)
Beck Depression Inventory	Depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops you doing your normal activities.	Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before the treatment. BDI comprises 21 items, each of which is rated between 0 and 3 on a 4-point Likert Scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 63 points.
Neck Pain and Disability Scale	A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them.	Disability was evaluated by Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) before the treatment. The scale progresses from 0 to 5, increasing the limitation. the total NPAD score, which ranges from 0 to 100 points.
Myofascial trigger points assessment	Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) have been defined as discrete and hyperirritable areas located within a taut band of skeletal muscle or fascia which when compressed produce pain, tenderness, dysfunction and autonomic phenomena	The MTrPs assesment was made with palpation by the physical therapist. The therapist used an algometer. The number of MTrPs and pain pressure threshold values were evaluated before treatment. PPT is a safe outcome measure to evaluate pain sensitivity.
Myofascial trigger points assessment	Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) have been defined as discrete and hyperirritable areas located within a taut band of skeletal muscle or fascia which when compressed produce pain, tenderness, dysfunction and autonomic phenomena	The MTrPs assesment was made with palpation by the physical therapist. The therapist used an algometer. The number of MTrPs and pain pressure threshold values were evaluated immediately after the treatment.
Pain intensity	Pain intensity is of valuable diagnostic information, and we ask patients to evaluate how strong their pain feels	Pain intensity was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) at one week after the treatment (0-10 numeric pain rating scale, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 severe pain)
Beck Depression Inventory	Depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops you doing your normal activities.	Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at one week after the treatment. BDI comprises 21 items, each of which is rated between 0 and 3 on a 4-point Likert Scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 63 points.
Neck Pain and Disability Scale	A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them.	Disability was evaluated by Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) at one week after the treatment. The scale progresses from 0 to 5, increasing the limitation. the total NPAD score, which ranges from 0 to 100 points.
Myofascial trigger points assessment	Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) have been defined as discrete and hyperirritable areas located within a taut band of skeletal muscle or fascia which when compressed produce pain, tenderness, dysfunction and autonomic phenomena	The MTrPs assesment was made with palpation by the physical therapist. The therapist used an algometer. Pain pressure threshold values were evaluated at one week after the treatment.
Pain intensity	Pain intensity is of valuable diagnostic information, and we ask patients to evaluate how strong their pain feels	Pain intensity was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) at one month after the treatment (0-10 numeric pain rating scale, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 severe pain)
Beck Depression Inventory	Depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops you doing your normal activities.	Depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at one month after the treatment. BDI comprises 21 items, each of which is rated between 0 and 3 on a 4-point Likert Scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 63 points.
Neck Pain and Disability Scale	A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them.	Disability was evaluated by Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) at one month after the treatment. The scale progresses from 0 to 5, increasing the limitation. the total NPAD score, which ranges from 0 to 100 points.
Myofascial trigger points assessment	Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) have been defined as discrete and hyperirritable areas located within a taut band of skeletal muscle or fascia which when compressed produce pain, tenderness, dysfunction and autonomic phenomena	The MTrPs assesment was made with palpation by the physical therapist. The therapist used an algometer. Pain pressure threshold values were evaluated at one month after the treatment.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gazi University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Gamze G Pala, PhD, Istanbul Aydın University; Principal Investigator: Ebru Kaya Mutlu, Assoc.Prof., Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC); Principal Investigator: Hanifegül Taşkıran, Prof., Istanbul Aydın University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Vernon H, Schneider M. Chiropractic management of myofascial trigger points and myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review of the literature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Jan;32(1):14-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.06.012.
• Alvarez DJ, Rockwell PG. Trigger points: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician. 2002 Feb 15;65(4):653-60.
• Unalan H, Majlesi J, Aydin FY, Palamar D. Comparison of high-power pain threshold ultrasound therapy with local injection in the treatment of active myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Apr;92(4):657-62. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.11.030.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 24, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 30, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 30, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain; high power pain threshold ultrasound; trigger points; pain pressure threshold; ischemic compression
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: B.30.2.AYD

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