Comparison of the effects of extracorporeal shockwave treatment with kinesiological taping treatments added to exercise treatment in myofascial pain syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although studies examined kinesiological taping (KT) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), no study has yet compared these two treatments.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of KT and ESWT on pain, pain threshold, functional level and neck movements in the treatment of MPS, which is an important cause of disability and constitutes 50–80% of chronic painful diseases.

METHODS:

Two hundred and sixty-two patients diagnosed with MPS in the upper part of the unilateral trapeze muscle were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment they received: Group 1 ( $n=$ 75): ESWT $+$ exercise, Group 2 ( $n=$ 82): KT $+$ exercise, Group 3 ( $n=$ 105) and the latter receiving only exercise therapy (control group). Visual analog scale (VAS), pain threshold with algometer, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and neck contralateral lateral flexion angle were assessed before and three months after treatment.

RESULTS:

VAS, pain threshold, NDI and contralateral flexion angle values after treatment improved significantly in the ESWT and KT groups ( $p<$ 0.05) compared to the control group. The level of improvement in the ESWT group was higher ( $p<$ 0.05) than in the KT group in terms of VAS, pain threshold and NDI scores.

CONCLUSION:

Exercise, KT and ESWT applications in MPS were effective in all of the parameters examined. However, the ESWT $+$ exercise therapy was more effective in terms of pain, pain threshold and disability.