Assessing the effectiveness of ischemic compression withhold-relax technique for trigger points in Non-specific neck pain

Abstract

Background: Pain from unknown origin can lead to miss interpretations as a result pain lingers and continues for up to month or longer like myofascial trigger points. These can affect neck, shoulder, upper back causing pain and reduced range of motion. There are lot of manual and non-manual therapies available to treat myofascial trigger point but the combination of different treatment approaches can enhance the outcome measures. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of Ischemic compression technique in conjunction with proprioceptive neuromuscular technique (Hold relax) and Ischemic compression alone. In addition, improvement in range of motion is also considered.

Subject and methods: The Experimental, Randomized control trail (RCT), Group one received ICT i.e., pincer technique and group two ICT +Hold Relax for three sessions per week up to nine weeks on trigger point of upper trapezius. Baseline of six weeks and nine weeks used to assess the outcome measures. Pain intensity measure by visual analogous scale while range of motion was measured by goniometer.

Results: Both interventions reduced pain intensity and increase range of motion. Group one post pain -score is (6.6± 0.5) while group two post pain -score is (7.0±1.0) at base line of nine weeks. Clients received ICT +HR shown marked improvement in neck pain at baseline of six weeks (4.1± 2.1) as compare to ICT group (5.4 ±2.0). Pre and post lateral flexion of neck. Both groups proved significant improvement in home and work activities in neck pain.

Conclusion: Ischemic compression technique with holding relaxes shown more significant impact on pain intensity and range of motion. However, both groups reveal significant effect on reduction of pain intensity as well as range of lateral flexion improved.