ORIGINAL PAPER
Investigating the effectiveness of adding microcurrent therapy to a traditional treatment program in myofascial pain syndrome in terms of neck pain and function
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
 
2
Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
 
3
Department of Physical Therapy for Women’s Health, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
 
4
Department of Physiotherapy for Integumentary Problems, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Deraya University, Minya, Egypt
 
5
Department of Physiotherapy, Centre of Radiation, Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
 
 
Submission date: 2020-01-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2020-03-21
 
 
Publication date: 2021-03-22
 
 
Physiother Quart. 2021;29(1):17-23
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
To investigate the effect of microcurrent on pain, pain threshold, range of motion, neck muscle strength, and neck function.

Methods:
It is a pilot study involving 28 female subjects (aged 18–24 years) complaining of neck pain due to active unilateral trigger points in upper trapezius muscle. The subjects were randomly assigned to 2 groups: group I (n = 15) received microcurrent (frequency: 20 Hz, intensity: 25–30 µA) and traditional treatment in the form of stretching exercise for upper fibre of trapezius, isometric strengthening exercise, ischaemic compression technique; group II (n = 13) received only traditional treatment. All subjects received 2 sessions per week for 3 weeks.

Results:
There was a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in cervical range of motion, pain level, neck disability index, and pain threshold in both treatment groups. Isometric muscle strength was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in group I, with no significant (p > 0.05) difference in group II. Group I showed a more significant effect in all measured variables than group II. Neck disability index and muscle strength presented a significant change (p < 0.05) with respect to group and time interaction.

Conclusions:
Microcurrent therapy added to traditional treatment increased the effectiveness of myofascial pain syndrome treatment as compared with traditional treatment alone.

 
REFERENCES (48)
1.
Fejer R, Kyvik KO, Hartvigsen J. The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature. Eur Spine J. 2006;15(6):834–848; doi: 10.1007/s00586-004-0864-4.
 
2.
Travell JG, Simons DG. Myofascial pain and dysfunction: the trigger point manual. Williams & Wilkins; 1992.
 
3.
Leite FMG, Atallah ÁN, El Dib R, Grossmann E, Januzzi E, Andriolo RB, et al. Cyclobenzaprine for the treatment of myofascial pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;2009(3):CD006830; doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006830.pub3.
 
4.
Wheeler AH, Aaron GW. Muscle pain due to injury. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2001;5(5):441–446; doi: 10.1007/s11916-001-0055-5.
 
5.
Dommerholt J, Bron C, Franssen J. Myofascial trigger points: an evidence-informed review. J Man Manip Ther. 2006;14(4):203–221; doi: 10.1179/106698106790819991.
 
6.
Simons DG, Stolov WC. Microscopic features and transient contraction of palpable bands in canine muscle. Am J Phys Med. 1976;55(2):65–88.
 
7.
Jafri MS. Mechanisms of myofascial pain. Int Sch Res Notices. 2014;2014:523924; doi: 10.1155/2014/523924.
 
8.
Bullock JD. Relative afferent pupillary defect in the “better” eye. J Clin Neuroophthalmol. 1990;10(1):45–51; doi: 10.3109/01658109008997261.
 
9.
Celik D, Mutlu EK. Clinical implication of latent myofascial trigger point. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013;17(8):353; doi: 10.1007/s11916-013-0353-8.
 
10.
Hoving JL, Koes BW, de Vet HCW, van der Windt DAWM, Assendelft WJJ, van Mameren H, et al. Manual therapy, physical therapy, or continued care by a general practitioner for patients with neck pain. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136(10):713–722; doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-136-10-200205210-00006.
 
11.
Jette AM, Delitto A. Physical therapy treatment choices for musculoskeletal impairments. Phys Ther. 1997;77(2):145–154; doi: 10.1093/ptj/77.2.145.
 
12.
Ravichandran P, Ponni HK, Aseer PAL. Effectiveness of ischemic compression on trapezius myofascial trigger points in neck pain. Int J Physiother. 2016;3(2):186–192; doi: 10.15621/ijphy/2016/v3i2/94883.
 
13.
Denegar CR, Saliba E, Saliba S. Therapeutic modalities for musculoskeletal injuries, 4th ed. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2015.
 
14.
Xu Y-M, Ge H-Y, Arendt-Nielsen L. Sustained nociceptive mechanical stimulation of latent myofascial trigger point induces central sensitization in healthy subjects. J Pain. 2010;11(12):1348–1355; doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2010.03.010.
 
15.
Rodríguez-Fernández ÁL, Garrido-Santofimia V, Güeita-Rodríguez J, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C. Effects of burst-type transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cervical range of motion and latent myofascial trigger point pain sensitivity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;92(9):1353–1358; doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.04.010.
 
16.
Mercola JM, Kirsch DL. The basis for microcurrent electrical therapy in conventional medical practice. J Adv Med. 1995;8(2):107–120.
 
17.
Vodovnik L, Karba R. Treatment of chronic wounds by means of electric and electromagnetic fields. Part 1. Literature review. Med Biol Eng Comput. 1992;30(3):257–266; doi: 10.1007/BF02446963.
 
18.
Cook KF, Jensen SE, Schalet BD, Beaumont JL, Amtmann D, Czajkowski S, et al. PROMIS measures of pain, fatigue, negative affect, physical function, and social function demonstrated clinical validity across a range of chronic conditions. J Clin Epidemiol. 2016;73:89–102; doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2015.08.038.
 
19.
Kinser AM, Sands WA, Stone MH. Reliability and validity of a pressure algometer. J Strength Cond Res. 2009;23(1):312–314; doi: 10.1519/jsc.0b013e31818f051c.
 
20.
Han TR, Kim JH, Chun MH, Choi KH. Pain threshold using a pressure algometer in normal Korean young adults. J Korean Acad Rehabil Med. 1994;18(2):219–226.
 
21.
Fischer AA. Pressure threshold meter: its use for quantification of tender spots. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1986;67(11):836–838; doi: 10.5555/uri:pii:0003999386901802.
 
22.
Delaney GA, McKee AC. Inter- and intra-rater reliability of the pressure threshold meter in measurement of myofascial trigger point sensitivity. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1993;72(3):136–139; doi: 10.1097/00002060-199306000-00005.
 
23.
Vernon H. The neck disability index: state-of-the-art, 1991–2008. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008;31(7):491–502; doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.08.006.
 
24.
MacDermid JC, Walton DM, Avery S, Blanchard A, Etruw E, McAlpine C, et al. Measurement properties of the neck disability index: a systematic review. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009;39(5):400–417; doi: 10.2519/jospt.2009.2930.
 
25.
Pearson I, Reichert A, De Serres SJ, Dumas J-P, Côté JN. Maximal voluntary isometric neck strength deficits in adults with whiplash-associated disorders and association with pain and fear of movement. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009;39(3):179–187; doi: 10.2519/jospt.2009.2950.
 
26.
Chiu TTW, Lam T-H, Hedley AJ. Maximal isometric muscle strength of the cervical spine in healthy volunteers. Clin Rehabil. 2002;16(7):772–779; doi: 10.1191/0269215502cr552oa.
 
27.
Audette I, Dumas J-P, Côté JN, De Serres SJ. Validity and between-day reliability of the cervical range of motion (CROM) device. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2010;40(5):318–323; doi: 10.2519/jospt.2010.3180.
 
28.
Tousignant M, Smeesters C, Breton A-M, Breton É, Corriveau H. Criterion validity study of the cervical range of motion (CROM) device for rotational range of motion on healthy adults. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006;36(4):242–248; doi: 10.2519/jospt.2006.36.4.242.
 
29.
Chao YW, Lin JJ, Yang JL, Wang WTJ. Kinesio taping and manual pressure release: short-term effects in subjects with myofascial trigger point. J Hand Ther. 2016;29(1):23–29; doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2015.10.003.
 
30.
Jagad BH, Jagad KB. Effects of ischemic compression on the trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2013;7(1):99–104.
 
31.
Montañez-Aguilera FJ, Valtueña-Gimeno N, Pecos-Martín D, Arnau-Masanet R, Barrios-Pitarque C, Bosch-Morell F. Changes in a patient with neck pain after application of ischemic compression as a trigger point therapy. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2010;23(2):101–104; doi: 10.3233/BMR-2010-0255.
 
32.
Cagnie B, Dewitte V, Coppieters I, Van Oosterwijck J, Cools A, Danneels L. Effect of ischemic compression on trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles in office workers: a cohort study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2013;36(8):482–489; doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.07.001.
 
33.
Anders C, Sprott H, Scholle HC. Surface EMG of the lumbar part of the erector trunci muscle in patients with fibromyalgia. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2001;19(4):453–455.
 
34.
De Lorena SB, de Lima MCC, Ranzolin A, Pinto Duarte ÂLB. Effects of muscle stretching exercises in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a systematic review. Rev Bras Reumatol. 2015;55(2):167–173; doi: 10.1016/j.rbr.2014.08.015.
 
35.
Andersen LL, Kjaer M, Søgaard K, Hansen L, Kryger AI, Sjøgaard G. Effect of two contrasting types of physical exercise on chronic neck muscle pain. Arthritis Care Res. 2008;59(1):84–91; doi: 10.1002/art.23256.
 
36.
Zebis MK, Andersen LL, Pedersen MT, Mortensen P, Andersen CH, Pedersen MM, et al. Implementation of neck/shoulder exercises for pain relief among industrial workers: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011;12(1):205; doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-12-205.
 
37.
Battecha KH, Abdel Raoof NA, Kamel DM, Tantawy SA. The effect of cranio-cervical flexion training and rest break on neck pain and functional performance in visual display unit users. Biosci Res. 2018;15(4):3708–3717.
 
38.
Chaitow L, DeLany J. Clinical application of neuromuscular techniques: the upper body, 2nd ed. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2008.
 
39.
Phadke A, Bedekar N, Shyam A, Sancheti P. Effect of muscle energy technique and static stretching on pain and functional disability in patients with mechanical neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2016;35:5–11; doi: 10.1016/j.hkpj.2015.12.002.
 
40.
Chevalier A, Armstrong K, Norwood-Williams C, Gokal R. DC electroacupuncture effects on scars and sutures of a patient with postconcussion pain. Med Acupunct. 2016;28(4):223–229; doi: 10.1089/acu.2016.1188.
 
41.
McMakin CR. Microcurrent therapy: a novel treatment method for chronic low back myofascial pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2004;8(2):143–153; doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2003.12.006.
 
42.
McMakin CR, Gregory WM, Phillips TM. Cytokine changes with microcurrent treatment of fibromyalgia associated with cervical spine trauma. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2005;9(3):169–176; doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2004.12.003.
 
43.
Bonacci JA, Higbie EJ. Effects of microcurrent treatment on perceived pain and muscle strength following eccentric exercise. J Athl Train. 1997;32(2):119–123.
 
44.
McMakin C. Microcurrent treatment of myofascial pain in the head, neck, and face. Top Clin Chiro. 1998;5(1):29–35.
 
45.
Khalil MA, Alkhozamy H, Fadle S, Hefny AM, Ismail MA. Effect of Mulligan upper cervical manual traction in the treatment of cervicogenic headache: a randomized controlled trial. Physiother Quart. 2019;27(4):13–20; doi: 10.5114/pq.2019.87738.
 
46.
Saranya B, Ahmed J, Shenoy N, Ongole R, Sujir N, Natarajan S. Comparison of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) and microcurrent nerve stimulation (MENS) in the management of masticatory muscle pain: a comparative study. Pain Res Manag. 2019;2019:8291624; doi: 10.1155/2019/8291624.
 
47.
Park JW, Kwak J, Lee S, Lee S. Microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation to improve myofascial neck pain and stiffness. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2018;61(Suppl.):e108; doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2018.05.232.
 
48.
El-Gendy MH, Lasheen YR, Rezkalla WKS. Multimodal approach of electrotherapy versus myofascial release in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Physiother Quart. 2019;27(4):6–12; doi: 10.5114/pq.2019.87735.
 
ISSN:2544-4395
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top