Effects of Ischemic Compression on the Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Muscle
Subscribe/Renew Journal
Method: 30 subjects were randomly assigned to either treatment group (group 1) or a control group (group 2). Subjects in group 1 received ischemic compression on the primary trigger point followed by stretching of the upper trapezius muscle. Subjects in group 2 received active neck exercise followed by stretching. All the patients of group 1 and 2 received treatment for 7 days. Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) measured by pressure algometer was used to measure trigger point sensitivity and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was scored as a measure of pain intensity on day 1 and day 8 in both the groups.
Results: In the treatment group (group 1) significant improvement was evident in the pressure pain threshold values (t=7.02, p
Conclusion: Ischemic compression technique is highly effective in reducing the trigger point sensitivity and pain intensity in the trapezius muscle.