Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Neck
Conditions
Keywords
Myofascial Pain Syndrome, High-Intensity Laser Therapy, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Cervical Pain, Physical Therapy, Pain Management
Brief summary
this randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) and Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) in managing patients with Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS). Thirty-two participants will be randomly assigned to receive either HILT or ESWT over a period of 4 weeks. Outcome measures include pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), tenderness, functional disability, and cervical range of motion.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) and Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) in the management of patients with Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) of the neck and shoulder region. Thirty-two participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving HILT and the other receiving ESWT, with both groups undergoing 8 treatment sessions over 4 weeks. The primary outcome is pain intensity assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include tenderness (PPT), functional disability (Neck Disability Index), and cervical range of motion (measured by CROM). The study will be conducted at the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Benha University.
Interventions
RADIATIONHigh-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT)
will be administered to active myofascial trigger points in the neck and shoulder region. The laser device used is an 808 nm gallium-aluminum-arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser in continuous mode. Parameters: power output of 8-10 W, frequency of 2000 Hz, and application time of 60 seconds per trigger point, targeting 5-6 trigger points per session. Treatment will be delivered twice weekly for 4 consecutive weeks, totaling 8 sessions.
ESWT will be applied to active myofascial trigger points using a radial shockwave device. Parameters: Energy flux density 0.1-0.2 mJ/mm², 2000 shocks per session, frequency of 2 sessions per week for 4 weeks (8 sessions).
Sponsors
MTI University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Male and female participants aged 18-60 years. Diagnosis of Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) in the neck/shoulder region. Presence of active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius. Willingness to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
History of cervical spine surgery, trauma, or radiculopathy. Contraindications to laser or shockwave therapy. Presence of systemic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, malignancy). Receiving other physical therapy interventions during the study period
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Pain Intensity | Baseline and 4 weeks after intervention (post-treatment) | Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm line where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain imaginable. A lower score indicates improvement. The primary outcome is the mean change from baseline to post-treatment. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) as measured by pressure algometer | Baseline and 4 weeks post-treatment | The pressure pain threshold (PPT) will be assessed using a digital pressure algometer (in kg/cm² or kPa) applied perpendicularly to active myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius. The point at which the sensation changes from pressure to pain is recorded. Higher values indicate increased pain tolerance. Measurements will be taken at baseline and post-treatment. |
| Neck Disability Index (NDI) | Baseline and 4 weeks post-treatment | Functional disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), a 10-item self-reported questionnaire scored from 0 to 50, where higher scores indicate greater disability. The primary metric is the mean change from baseline to post-treatment. |
| Cervical Range of Motion (ROM) | Baseline, 4 weeks | — |
Countries
Egypt
Outcome results
None listed