• Dawn T Gulick.
• Widener University, Institute for Physical Therapy Education, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013, USA. Electronic address: dtgulick@widener.edu.
• J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Apr 1; 22 (2): 341-345.

BackgroundA 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.PurposeTo 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).MethodsRandomized, 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.ResultsPaired 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.ConclusionsA 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.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

14 keywords...

hide…