Effect of Postisometric Relaxation Technique Versus Conventional Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation with Passive Stretching in Reducing Pain in Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Upper Trapezius

Abstract

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is characterized by myofascial trigger points in a palpable taut band of skeletal muscle and referred pain to a remote location. The prevalence of myofascial pain syndrome, a common musculoskeletal disorder, has been increasing dramatically in recent years. It is a pretest and posttest experimental study design 20 Patients of age between 20 to 40 years with myofascial pain syndrome were divided into two groups. Group A consists of 10 patients and received postisometric relaxation technique (PIR). Group B consist of 10 subjects and received conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with passive stretching. Treatment duration for both groups was twice a day, daily for one week. Pain was used as outcome measure and measured by visual analog scale (VAS). Pretest and posttest values were measured and analysed bySstudent ‘t' test. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the effect of postisometric relaxation technique and conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with passive stretching in reducing pain in myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius. The study concluded that postisometric relaxation technique and conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with passive stretching were equally effective in reducing pain in myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius.