Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Looked through the Lens of 11 Cases Managed by Myofascial Trigger Point Massage Therapy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome is a common pain condition characterized by a key symptoms and signs, determined by multiple etiologies, comorbid with a variety of systemic diseases and regional pain syndromes and managed by diverse therapies with variable outcomes.
 Objective: This study aimed to concisely report 11 cases of myofascial pain syndrome managed by myofascial trigger point therapy.
 Methods: The relevant information about 11 cases was collected prospectively using a semistructured proforma. All patients were diagnosed mainly by detailed history and gold standard palpation method that helps identify taut muscles, tender myofascial trigger points, local twitch response and autonomic manifestations.
 Results: Most of the patients with variable age and profession presented in emergency room with acute pain, limited motion, weakness, referred pain of specific pattern and associated autonomic signs and symptoms. Myofascial trigger point therapy alone with a timeline of about 30-60 minutes of 1-3sessions brought about good results in all 11 patients (100%) who remained stable at two to three months followup.
 Conclusion: Myofascial pain syndrome linked with latent or active myofascial trigger points developed due to repeated strains and injuries needs to be diagnosed by history and palpation method, systemic evaluation and laboratory investigations. Though several interventions are used in myofascial pain syndrome, myofascial trigger point massage therapy alone is found to be reasonably effective with excellent results. This clinical case series is calling for double-blind randomized controlled trials among patients with myofascial pain syndrome not only in Saudi Arabia but also in other Middle East countries in future.

Extracorporeal ShockWave Treatment vs. mesotherapy in the treatment of myofascial syndromes: a clinical trial

“…Other popular treatments include manual therapy and dry cupping. Numerous studies have compared the effectiveness of each treatment in short-term relief of myofascial pain (38)(39)(40)(41)(42). An additional therapeutic alternative is acupuncture; in the scientific literature many authors have highlighted the effectiveness of this treatment in patients with myofascial pain syndrome (43,44) 47) also conducted a study comparing "ischemic compressions" (IC) with ESWT demonstrating the effectiveness of ESWT in reducing symptoms.…”

Effectiveness of ischemic compression pressure versus spray and stretch technique in the management of active myofascial trigger points of trapezius muscle.

“…Physical assessment is the only tool to diagnose the MTrPs. The Algometers have been used to determine the pressure threshold of the trigger point during assessment 7 . Manual techniques to deactivate MTrPs include transverse friction massage, strain-counter strain techniques, spray and stretch technique, post isometric relaxation, ischemic compression pressure, trigger point pressure release, stretching, etc.…”