Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Controlled Clinical Study

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life [HRQOL] in patients with the myofascial pain syndrome [MPS] and to evaluate the relation between this and various clinical parameters. Methods: Patients with MPS, according to Travell and Simons (7), were recruited from the rehabilitation practice of the authors. Healthy normal controls were recruited from among relatives or friends of the patients. The duration and intensity of pain was noted and the Nottingham Health Profile [NHP] used to assess the HRQOL in both the groups. Results: Thirty-seven patients with MPS and 40 healthy normal control volunteers were included in this study. Except for social isolation score, the mean scores for all parameters of the NHP were higher in the MPS group, which means a worse HRQOL. There was a correlation between NHP pain score and number of trigger points. However, no correlation was found between the NHP scores and other clinical parameters, such as age, duration of pain, and visual analog scale scores. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that MPS affects many aspects of HRQOL. Besides the clinical and laboratory evaluation, the emotional and physiological parameters should also be considered to define the health status of the patients and plan the appropriate treatment.