• Almir Vieira Dibai-Filho, Marília Artese Barros, Alessandra Kelly de Oliveira, and Rinaldo Roberto de Jesus Guirro.
• Laboratory of Physiotherapeutic Resources, Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
• J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018 Jan 1; 31 (2): 275-284.

BackgroundMyofascial trigger points are dysfunctional structures present in skeletal muscles and are related to sensory, motor, and autonomic changes. Despite scientific advances in recent decades in the measurement of musculoskeletal pain, evaluation of this clinical phenomenon is supported with instruments that, although valid and reliable, have a considerable degree of subjectivity.ObjectiveTo correlate electrical impedance of the upper limbs and torso with pain intensity, functional capacity, catastrophizing, pressure pain threshold, and skin temperature on myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle of patients with neck pain.MethodsA single-blind cross-sectional study. Twenty-eight volunteers of both genders were included in the study, were aged 18-45 years, and had chronic neck pain and myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius. The volunteers were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, the Neck Disability Index, the Pain-Related Self-Statement Scale, algometry, infrared thermography, and electrical bioimpedance.ResultsThe following significant results were observed: a negative association between the pressure pain threshold on myofascial trigger point in the right upper trapezius and electrical impedance of the torso at 5 kHz (rs=-0.392, p= 0.032), 50 kHz (rs=-0.406, p= 0.026), 250 kHz (rs=-0.388, p= 0.034), and to the frequency 500 kHz (rs=-0.444, p= 0.014).ConclusionElectrical impedance of the torso is associated with the pressure pain threshold of myofascial trigger points on the upper trapezius of individuals with neck pain. Thus, individuals with a lower pressure pain threshold have higher electrical impedance values of the torso and vice versa.

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