Effectiveness of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization in myofascial pain syndrome: preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common problem decreasing physical functioning, emotional status, and social participating. It also affects quality of life of individual suffering from myofascial pain syndrome. The aim of the study was to show the effectiveness and contribution of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization in physical therapy in myofascial pain syndrome. Materal and Methods. Randomized controlled study design. Twenty two patients (F/M:17/5) with myofascial pain syndrome were included. They were randomly divided into two groups (study and control). The experimental group applied IASTM with conventional physiotherapy program, the control group was followed by only a conventional physiotherapy program without any manual intervention. Visual pain scale, neck and shoulder joint range of motion, pain pressure threshold, Neck Pain and Disability Index, Beck Depression Inventory, Center of Disease Control Health-Related Quality of Life were used for data collection. Results. The mean age participants was 36.86±10.28 years. In study group, there was a significant difference after intervention according to preintervention in all measurements. In control group there was a difference in just neck and shoulder range of motion(p<0.05). In the study group, development was found meaningfully more than the control group in quality of life parameter, item 3 (number of days good at emotional health), depression score, disability score, pain severity, neck lateral flexion and pain pressure threshold(p<0.05). Conclusion. In myofascial pain syndrome, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization could be an effective treatment technic in quality of life, emotional status, pain severity, functional status and range of motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]