No additional benefit of trigger point therapy in cervical spondylosis patients treated with physiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Trigger points are defined as exquisitely tender spots in discrete taut bands of hardened muscle that produce symptoms. Trigger point therapy is increasingly accepted in the medical literature. Clinical and electrophysiological research has provided biological plausibility for the existence of trigger points.Aim: The main purpose of this study was to determine the additional benefit of trigger point therapy on cervical pain, mobility and functionality in cervical spondylosis patients treated with physiotherapy.Materials and methods: We conducted a 3-week interventional study on eighteen patients diagnosed with cervical spondylosis addressed to a physiotherapy clinic for treatment. After signing an informed consent, patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the study group - which had trigger point therapy added to the common physiotherapy treatment protocol and the control group - which benefited from common physiotherapy treatment only. All patients were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale, Neck Disability Index and cervical mobility. All evaluations were made before treatment, after 2 weeks and 3 weeks of treatment.Results: Both the study and control groups had significantly improved in pain, cervical mobility and physical function. The pain and functionality comparison at the end of the study, did not find significant differences between groups.Conclusion: The study shows that adding trigger point therapy to common physiotherapeutic treatment is not followed by additional improvement in pain, mobility or physical function of patients with cervical spondylosis.