Emerging Concepts in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain: A Review of Medications, Modalities, and Needle‐based Interventions

Abstract

Significant developments and changes in the use of interventions and treatments for the management of myofascial pain syndrome have occurred in the past 10 years. These emerging concepts have changed the approach for clinicians who manage these pain disorders. However, wide variations in practice patterns prevail, and no clear consensus exists regarding when and how to use these interventions; in addition, awareness of the evidence basis behind their use is limited. This review examines the most recent advances in the treatment of myofascial pain syndromes. Specifically, the evidence basis of various emerging interventions is reviewed and recommendations for routine clinical practice and their rationale are provided. The purpose of this review is to provide the clinician with a better understanding of emerging concepts in the interventions used for myofascial pain syndromes.

Evaluation of the Effects of Intravenous and Percutaneous Low Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Shoulder Myofascial Pain Syndrome

“…Overall, our findings in this study, like previous studies, support that MPS still lacks a clear treatment frame 4 and its management should be based on a multimodal approach. 5 …”

“…In previous studies also, LLLT was reported to be effective in the treatment of MPS as an adjunctive treatment. 4,5 In Gur et al study, the use of LLLT was effective in treating neck MPS compared to placebo. 10 Carrasco et al also reported that LLLT was effective in pain reduction of patients with MPS.…”

“…Therefore we can expect myofascial pain to grow in prevalence as both sedentary life which increases progressively and technologic progress provide work conditions favorable for development of this condition. Despite decades of research on MPS, this disorder still lacks a clear treatment frame 4 and MPS management is based on multimodal approach. 5 Actual treatment modalities comprise awareness of associated factors, medication, stretching exercises, acupuncture, injections, manual therapy, ultrasound, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and biofeedback, 2,6 but no single combination has provided us with an effective and efficient treatment method since recurrence is still high.…”

“…Although laser protocols in terms of duration, dosage and wavelength have yet to be determined; Low level laser therapy (LLLT) can be introduced as an adjunctive modality for treatment of chronic pain conditions. 4 Intravenous laser therapy (IVL) has been applications in many different areas of medicine with a growing interest. IVL has laser specific analgesic, spasmolytic and sedative effects among many other.…”

Eficacia de medicamentos antihomotóxicos en el tratamiento del síndrome miofascial cervical y de cintura escapular: estudio comparativo versus toxina botulínica tipo A

“…Dentro de los procedimientos invasivos se incluyen tratamientos como punción seca de los puntos gatillo con aguja (7,10,11), la infiltración con anestésicos locales (12) y esteroides (13) en los puntos gatillo. De igual forma se ha utilizado la toxina botulínica tipo A (TXB A) para la infiltración de puntos gatillo (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”