[Purpose] The aim of the present was to investigate the short-term effects of a program
combining self-massage and home exercise for patients with myofascial pain dysfunction
syndrome (MPDS). [Subjects and Methods] In this retrospective study, 63 patients were
allocated to the experimental (n = 32) and control (n = 31) groups. Both groups received 6
sessions of treatment with physical modalities over the course of two weeks. The
experimental group completed an additional program with a combination of self-massage and
home exercise. The outcome measurements included a pain scale, pressure pain threshold
(PPT), neck disability index (NDI), patient-specific functional scales (PSFS), and heart
rate variability (HRV). The interactions between the groups and over time were analyzed
using two-way repeated measures ANOVA. [Results] Only the experimental group demonstrated
significant improvements in the pain scale with varying conditions. The PPTs of the
trigger points increased significantly in the experimental group, and significant
functional improvements in NDI and PSFS were observed in the same group. There were
significant increases in high-frequency HRV and high-frequency % in the experimental
group. [Conclusion] Treatment with physical modalities plus combination of self-massage
and home exercise is more effective than the physical modalities treatment alone.
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