Effects of different physiotherapy practices on pain and functionality in patients with myofascial pain syndrome

The purpose of the present work was to compare the efficacy of trigger point-focused ultrasound therapy and kinesio taping in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. Forty-five patients diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome were enrolled and divided into three groups by simple randomization. The first group received ultrasound on trigger points, the second group underwent kinesio taping, and the third group received placebo ultrasound therapy. In addition to these applications, conventional treatment (Hotpack, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) was applied to all groups. All applications were performed in 15 sessions, five days a week, over three weeks. Cervical range of motion, pain status, pressure pain threshold, and functional status/disability were evaluated before and following the treatments by a standard goniometer, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), algometer, and Neck Disability Index, respectively. VAS values decreased and algometer values increased in all groups following the treatment (p<0.05). No difference was found between the ultrasound and control group or the kinesio taping and control group in the inter-group comparison of VAS and algometer (p>0.05), while the ultrasound group values were higher in comparison with the kinesio taping group (p<0.05). Total limitation of the ROM of the neck decreased in all three groups after treatment (p<0.05). In the inter-group comparison, the kinesio taping group was better in comparison with the other groups (p<0.05). The intra-group comparison for patients’ functional status and algometer values detected an enhancement in all three groups, whereas the inter-group comparison showed that the ultrasound group was better in comparison with the other groups (p<0.05). We think that trigger point ultrasound therapy can be added to the treatment programme to decrease pain and increase functionality, and kinesio taping can be added to the treatment programme to increase the normal ROM in patients with myofascial pain syndrome.