Comparison of the treatment effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and trigger point injection in myofascial pain syndrome

Abstract

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common chronic musculoskeletal disease and the lifetime prevalence is about 85%. Comparison of the effects of ESWT (extracorporeal shock wave therapy) and trigger point injection (TPI) treatments on sleep quality in myofascial pain syndrome has rarely been studied. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of TPI + Dry Needling (DN) and ESWT treatments on pain, neck disability level, and sleep quality in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. 63 patients diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. ESWT was given to 32 patients and TPI to 31 patients. These two treatment regimens were compared in terms of pain (VAS), sleep quality (PSQI), and neck disability (NDI). In terms of mean VAS, NDI, and PSQI values, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the mean of pre-treatment, post-treatment day 0 and post-treatment 1 month. A similar and significant improvement was observed in both groups in terms of the evaluated parameters and based on our results, we can recommend both treatment options to MPS patients.