Effectiveness of radial shock-wave therapy combined with self-stretching exercises in patients with myofascial pain syndrome

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study is to investigate the short term effects of radial shock-wave therapy combined with self-stretching exercises in patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Methods: 30 patients with chronic cervical myofascial pain (4 males, 26 females) aged between 25 to 57 years (with average age 41,20±10,23 years) were included the study. Participants were divided into two groups as intervention group (n=15) and control group (n=15). Patients in intervention group received radial shock-wave application one times a week for six weeks and home based stretching exercises. Patients in control group (CG) received home based stretching exercises. Rest and activity pain (Visual Analog Scale), pressure pain threshold (PPT), cervical range of motion (CROM) and disability (Neck Disability Index) were assessed at baseline and after the treatment. Results: Rest and activity pain, pain pressure threshold, cervical range of motion and disability scores improved after the treatment in the intervention group (p<0,05). On the other hand, it was not found significant changes any parameter after the treatment in the control group (p>0,05) except activity pain (p<0,05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that radial shock-wave therapy combined with stretching exercises was more effective at reducing pain, increasing cervical range of motion and improving disability level than stretching exercises in patients with chronic cervical myofascial pain. The clinical trial number of the study is NCT04814017. Several previous studies showed that ESWT has effects on musculosceletal diseases but the pathophysiology is not clear. There are several studies showing the effectiveness of focused ESWT for patients diagnosed MPS. , there are two studies which investigated the effect of radial shock-wave therapyin MPS but there is not significant differences.The combined treatment including radial shock-wave therapy and self-stretching exercise would be useful for physical therapists treating in a clinical settings.