Changes in Muscle Stiffness of the Trapezius Muscle after Application of Ischemic Compression into Myofascial Trigger Points in Professional Basketball Players

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the effects of compression trigger point therapy on the stiffness of the trapezius muscle in professional basketball players (Part A), and the reliability of the MyotonPRO device in clinical evaluation of athletes (Part B). Twelve professional basketball players participated in Part A of the study (mean age: 19.8 ± 2.4 years, body height 197 ± 8.2 cm, body mass: 91.8 ± 11.8 kg), with unilateral neck or shoulder pain at the dominant side. Part B tested twelve right-handed male athletes (mean ± SD; age: 20.4 ± 1.2 years; body height: 178.6 ± 7.7 cm; body mass: 73.2 ± 12.6 kg). Stiffness measurements were obtained directly before and after a single session trigger point compression therapy. Measurements were performed bilaterally over 5 points covering the trapezius muscle. The effects were evaluated using a full-factorial repeated measure ANOVA and the Bonferroni post-hoc test for equal variance. A p-value < .05 was considered significant. The RM ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in muscle stiffness for the upper trapezius muscle. Specifically, muscle stiffness decreased from 243.7 ± 30.5 to 215.0 ± 48.5 N/m (11.8%), (p = .008) (Part A). The test-retest relative reliability of trapezius muscle stiffness was found to be high (ICC from 0.821 to 0.913 for measurement points). The average SEM was 23.59 N/m and the MDC 65.34 N/m, respectively (Part B). The present study showed that a single session of compression trigger point therapy can be used to significantly decrease the stiffness of the upper trapezius among professional basketball players.

Characteristics of shoulder pain, muscle tone and isokinetic muscle function according to the scapular position of elite boxers

“…Due to the excessive use of the trapezius muscles, shoulder joint instability may occur due to relative muscle weakness or imbalance of the activation pattern between the muscles, and secondary impingement syndrome may appear [26]. It has been reported that if the shoulder range of motion is improved by reducing the tension of the UT muscles, the risk of injury to athletes can be reduced [21]. The IS muscle is the involved rotator cuff muscle of the shoulder joint.…”

“…Among the muscle tension of the shoulders, the examination was performed on the UT and IS muscles, which are correlated with the inward and backward rotations and the inner and outer rotations. In order to assess the muscle tone, UT was marked with a surgical marker pen in the middle part of the line connecting the spinous process of C7 and the end of the acromion, and the middle belly of the infraspinatus fossa for IS [21]. Subjects sat on a chair with a backrest to relax and maintain a comfortable posture.…”

Myofascial trigger-point compression therapy as an adjunct to exercise program is superior in alleviating chronic low back pain compared to exercise program alone

“…Current guidelines for the treatment of LBP endorse physical exercise programs and a range of other non-pharmacological complementary therapies including manual therapy, acupuncture, spinal manipulation and yoga [15]. Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) compression therapy is a well-studied form of non-pharmacological complementary manual therapy, which aims to induce temporary local ischemia and over-stimulation of mechanoreceptors in order to restore tissue normal functional conditions and healing response [7][8][9].…”

“…It is suggested that continuous compression at MTrPs over-stimulates local mechanoreceptors which leads to neurotransmitters depletion and results in pain attenuation. Also, rapid reperfusion with oxygenated blood, ones the obstruction of the local blood ow is released, is believed to restore the normal functional conditions of the muscle and contribute to its recovery [7][8][9]. Several studies evaluated the effect of MTrPs compression therapy on musculoskeletal pain syndromes and found it to be effective in relieving pain and disability [10][11][12].…”

The Rolf Method of Structural Integration on Fascial Tissue Stiffness, Elasticity, and Superficial Blood Perfusion in Healthy Individuals: The Prospective, Interventional Study

“…In addition, reduced hydration of FTs reduces their elasticity, leading to a kind of gluing (tissue adhesion) and the formation of painful trigger points (Behm and Wilke, 2019). Trigger points may affect the formation of musculoskeletal and fascial imbalance, which is biomechanically related to the persistence of abnormal posture and motor dysfunction (Kisilewicz et al, 2018;Wilke et al, 2018a;Behm and Wilke, 2019).…”