Influence of instrument assisted soft tissue techniques versus active soft tissue therapies on latent trigger point of upper trapezius muscle: Randomized clinical study

Objectives: To compare the effects of active soft tissue therapies versus Graston technique in chronic neck pain patients with latent trigger point of upper trapezius muscle. Methods: Design of the study was randomized clinical study. Forty-five female chronic neck pain patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle were randomly assigned into equal groups of 15 subjects. Group (A) received stretching exercise and active soft tissue therapy, group (B) received stretching exercise and Graston technique and group (C) received stretching exercise only. Pain pressure threshold and cervical ranges of motions were obtained before and after treatment in each group. Results: Mixed MANOVA revealed that there was a significant interaction of treatment and time (F [14, 72] = 8.97, p = .001). There was a significant main effect of time (F [7, 36] = 699.15 p= .001). There was a significant main effect of treatment (F [14, 72] = 5.34, p= .001). Within-group comparison revealed a significant increase in PPT and cervical ROM in the three groups post treatment compared with that pretreatment (p < .001). Between groups comparisons pretreatment revealed a no significant difference in all parameters (p > .05). Comparison between groups post treatment revealed a significant increase in PPT and cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation toward affected and non-affected side of group A and B compared with that of group C (p < .01). While there was no significant difference in in PPT and all cervical ROM between group A and B post treatment (p > .05). Conclusion: The current study does not support the efficacy of IASTM in increasing pain pressure threshold and range of motion in chronic neck pain patients with latent trigger point of upper trapezius muscle when compared with other treatments.