Background The scientific evidence proposed by Ikai & Fukunaga1 may be considered as a key point to use other techniques different from conventional ultrasound, such as the ultrasound imaging in the physical therapy field. Since the first reported use of USI by physical therapists, there has been a significant growth in ways in which physical therapists are using USI technology1.
There is limited information on myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and specific symptoms of chronic pelvic pain and, more specifically, dysmenorrhea. The objective of this study was to determine whether patients suffering from primary dysmenorrhea present alterations in mechanosensitivity and pain patterns, and greater presence of MTrPs in the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. A case-control study was carried out with a total sample of 84 participants distributed based on primary dysmenorrhea and contraceptive treatment. The sample was divided into four groups each comprising 21 women. Data on pain, quality of life, and productivity and work absenteeism were collected; three assessments were made in different phases of the menstrual cycle, to report data on pressure pain threshold, MTrP presence, and referred pain areas. One-way ANOVA tests showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) between the groups, for the Physical Health domain and the total score of the SF-12 questionnaire, and for all the domains of the McGill questionnaire; but no significant differences were found in the data from the WPAI-GH questionnaire. Statistically significant data (p < 0.01) were found for mechanosensitivity in the abdominal area and limbs, but not for the lumbar assessment, within the group, with very few significant intergroup differences. The frequency of active MTrPs is higher in the groups of women with primary dysmenorrhea and during the menstrual phase, with the prevalence of myofascial trigger points of the iliococcygeus muscle being especially high in all examination groups (>50%) and higher than 70% in women with primary dysmenorrhea, in the menstrual phase, and the internal obturator muscle (100%) in the menstrual phase. Referred pain areas of the pelvic floor muscles increase in women with primary dysmenorrhea.
The panoramic view ultrasound remains uncommon in clinical practice, probably because of its difficulty, high-cost, and lack of research. Morphological changes in muscles have been demonstrated to be related to symptomatology and provide data of interest for clinical assessment. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement reliability of the length of the lower trapezius muscle with the panoramic view ultrasound using a novel tool, SIG_VIP®. Twenty healthy volunteers were measured by two expert sonographers using the SIG_VIP® tool with a novel approach. Statistical analyses were performed with the R software. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC), and Bland-Altman plots were calculated. All the results indicated good intra-rater reliability (ICC3,1, 0.92 to 0.96; SEM, 0.59 to 0.85; MDC, 1.64 to 2.35) and inter-rater reliability (ICC3,2, 0.84 to 0.89; SEM, 1.22 to 1.53; MDC, 3.39 to 4.25). The novel system used with the described methodology can reliably measure the length of the inferior fibers of the trapezius muscle. Further research must be conducted to evaluate the reliability in patients and how pathology is related to the length of the lower trapezius muscle.
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