Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Versus Phonophoresis Therapy for Neck Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of using Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ECSWT) and phonophoresis therapy on pain and neck disability in patients with neck myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Methods: Forty eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups of ECSWT (received three sessions of ECSWT, once a week for three weeks) and phonophoresis (received ultrasound using hydrocortisone gel 1% over the trigger point on trapezius muscle, three times a week for three weeks). Patients in both groups received the same stretching exercise program and drug regimen during the intervention. Results: Pain and NDI scores in both groups were significantly improved at the end of the treatment and four weeks later. At the end of the treatment, the pain score was similar between the groups. Four weeks after the treatment, the pain score in the ECSWT group was significantly lower than in the phonophoresis group (P-value = 0.030). The NDI score was not significantly different between the groups at the end of the treatment. However, four weeks after the treatment, the NDI score was significantly lower in the ECSWT group than in the phonophoresis group (P-value=0.032). The trend of changes in the pain and NDI scores was not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: Both phonophoresis and ECSWT groups effectively decreased pain and neck disability in patients with MPS, with the superiority of ECSWT with a more lasting effect for a month after the end of the treatment.

Radial extracorporeal shock wave versus diclofenac phonophoresis on myofascial trigger points of upper fibers of trapezius

“…This result agreed with Taheri et al (2021), their results indicated significant improvement on pain intensity and neck disability immediately and after four weeks of intervention. After the treatment, the pain score in the rESWT group was significantly lower than in the phonophoresis group.…”

Use of Sonophoresis with Corticosteroids in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…There are several alternatives to corticosteroids administration. One of them is phonophoresis, this being an effective and painless method of administration [ 7 ]. It is applied by using the cavitation effect produced by an ultrasonic wave allowing drug penetration [ 8 ].…”

Effects of repeated injection of 1% lidocaine vs. radial extra-corporeal shock wave therapy for treating myofascial trigger points: a randomized controlled trial

“…Collectively, the studies on ESWT for MTrPs of the UTM published so far [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] did not show any advantage of focused ESWT (fESWT) over rESWT or vice versa (a detailed discussion of differences between and similarities of fESWT and rESWT is provided in [56]). This is important because the use of fESWT is restricted to physicians in many countries (as is the case in Germany where chiropractors and physiotherapists who have been trained in Germany are not legally entitled to use fESWT).…”

“…During the last decades, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as an effective and safe alternative for treating MTrPs [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. According to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, ESWT appears to be associated with higher pain alleviation than sham ESWT or ultrasound therapy in treatment of MTrPs in the UTM [38].…”