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

Effect of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Versus Trigger Points Release on Pain; Mobility and Function of Upper Trapezius Trigger Points in Chronic Neck Pain.

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Trigger Points
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Soft tissue release technique; Other: Comparator: Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization

Detailed 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, 54000
      • Ganga Ram Hospital and Care medical centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Soft tissue release technique; 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.	Other: Soft tissue release technique; 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.
Active Comparator: Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization; 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.	Other: Comparator: Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization; 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric pain rating scale	Scale consists of 4 questions regarding actual pain level, zero indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst pain imaginable	6 weeks
Goniometry	Goniometer is used to measure the ranges of body joints.	6 weeks
Neck disability index	Scale consists of 10 sections,each section contains questions regarding head/ neck pain and some questions regarding the daily activities that we perform	6 weks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 25, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 13, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): July 13, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 20, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 22, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 28, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 24, 2022
• Last Verified: November 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Upper trapezius pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR&AH/21/0129/TAUSEEF

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