The influence of Positional Release Therapy on the myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle in computer users

M Mohammadi Kojidi; F Okhovatian; A Rahimi; A A Baghban; H Azimi

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.04.006

The influence of Positional Release Therapy on the myofascial trigger points of the upper trapezius muscle in computer users

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2016 Oct;20(4):767-773. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.04.006. Epub 2016 Apr 7.

Authors

M Mohammadi Kojidi¹, F Okhovatian², A Rahimi³, A A Baghban³, H Azimi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Student Research Committee, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: farshadokhovatian1965@gmail.com.
³ Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Department of English Language Teaching, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 27814857
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.04.006

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Positional Release Therapy (PRT) in computer users via latent trigger points (LTrPs) of the upper trapezius muscle.

Materials and methods: Twenty-eight women with the upper trapezius MTrPs participated in this study. Subjects were randomly classified into two groups (14 in each group): the subjects in the Group 1 received PRT in shortened position while those in the group 2 received sham control in the neutral position of the upper trapezius muscle. They received three therapy sessions every other day for one week. The local pain intensity and Pressure pain threshold (PPT) were measured via Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and algometry, respectively, before interventions and repeated 5 min after the first and third treatment sessions in each group.

Results: One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis. After treatment, between groups comparison revealed that for PPT and VAS, there were significant differences between the two groups (VAS and PPT; P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Both groups (PRT and sham control) showed alleviation of pain and increase in PPT during three sessions of therapy although PRT showed to be more effective in these patients.

Keywords: Computer user; Positional Release Therapy; Trigger point; Upper trapezius muscle.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Computers*
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Myofascial Pain Syndromes / therapy*
Occupational Diseases / therapy*
Pain Measurement
Pain Threshold
Single-Blind Method
Superficial Back Muscles / physiopathology*
Therapy, Soft Tissue / methods*
Young Adult