Myofascial Release Technique at Trapeze Trigger Points For Cervical Pain

Abstract

Introduction: Cervicalgia causes neck pain as a consequence of palpable nodules called trigger points, which can be treated using the myofascial release technique.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of the application of the myofascial release technique on the trigger point of the trapezius muscle to relieve neck pain.

Material and methods: it was of a longitudinal descriptive type, to determine the effectiveness of the myofascial release technique and quantitative approach, for which the data was analyzed numerically, before and after the application of the rehabilitation treatment. It was considered to evaluate the visual analog scale of pain (VAS), to determine and differentiate the degree of intensity, the questionnaire of the neck disability index, with which we identify how neck pain can interfere with activities of daily life, and with the goniometer to determine the degree of function at the cervical level.

The sample consisted of 27 patients, with an average age of 33.59 ± 8.19 years.

 For the analysis of the results, the SPSS version 21.0 computer system was used. Statistics were univariate for sociodemographic variables, and bivariate relational for longitudinal comparison. The levels of significance adopted were 0.05 for the general comparisons of the internal control.

Results: The mean of the VAS evaluations went from 7.59 ± 1.37 before the therapeutic treatment to 2.22 ± 1.48 after the treatment; the neck disability index changed from 32.59 ± 4.81 at the start of the study to 14.48 ± 2.74 after therapy; while, all measurements with the goniometer in the flexion and extension movements improved from a 50% limitation to an 85% function, increasing the joint range in all its movements after the application of the rehabilitation protocol which included the myofascial release therapy, indicating increased neck mobility. All changes were statistically significant (p <0.05).

Conclusion: The myofascial release technique is effective for reducing neck pain.