Effectiveness of Myofascial Release Technique versus Positional Release Technique on Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Abstract

Background: The Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common clinical problem of muscle pain involving sensory, motor and autonomic symptoms caused by Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). A study regarding shoulder pain concludes that all 72 subjects included in their study presented MTrPs in shoulder girdle muscles, mainly in the infraspinatus muscle and upper trapezius. Treatment for MPS includes medication, splints, collars, physiotherapy and wide array of complementary therapies like psychological counseling. Numerous researches have been carried out on the role of physiotherapy methods such as massage, heat therapy, cryo-therapy, ultrasound therapy and therapeutic exercises to reduce MPS. The objective of the study is to compare the effectiveness between Myofascial release technique (MRT) and positional release technique (PRT) in treatment for MPS. Methodology: A total of 35 subjects fell under inclusion criteria in which 30 consented for participation. 15 subjects were allotted into each group randomly after obtaining the written informed consents. Demographic data and the outcome measures of the subjects were recorded before and after the intervention. Result & Conclusion: The results from paired “t” test shows that the Group B (PRT with ultrasound) is more effective when compared to the Group A (MRT with ultrasound). Future recommendation is to conduct a longer duration study with more number of samples. Samples at various levels of disability and pain chronicity can be included to determine the type of treatment that is effective for a particular level of disability and/or level of pain chronicity.