Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization increases myofascial trigger point pain threshold

Background

A myofascial trigger point (MTrP) has been defined as a hyperirritable, palpable nodule in a skeletal muscle. The signs and symptoms of a MTrP include muscle pain, weakness, and dysfunction. MTrPs are common problems associated with soft tissue pathology. Having an intervention to decrease MTrP pain can be clinically valuable.

Purpose

To determine if a series of six instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) treatments rendered over three weeks would influence the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of a myofascial trigger point (MTrP).

Methods

Randomized, control trial of healthy individuals (n = 29) with MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle. The intervention was six IASTM treatments rendered over three weeks. Each treatment included 1 min of sweeping with the GT-1/HG-2 (handle bar), 1 min of swivel with the knob of the GT-1/HG-2 directly over the MTrP, 2 min of fanning with the GT-4/HG-8 (convex single bevel), and concluded with 1 min of sweeping with GT-1/HG-2.The outcome measure used a dolorimeter to compare PPT before and after three weeks in both the treatment and control groups.

Results

Paired t-test for PPT pre-test and post-test of the control and treatment groups were p = 0.42159 and p = 0.00003, respectively. A one-way ANOVA of the control and IASTM groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001). The power calculation was greater than 0.99.

Conclusions

A 5-min intervention using three IASTM techniques can effectively increase the PPT of a MTrP in six treatments over a three-week period of time.