EFFECTIVENESS OF PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC, NON-INVASIVE TREATMENT METHODS FOR PAIN, ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINTS – A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
Spiridonas, Saulius (2014)
Spiridonas, Saulius
Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405229277
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405229277
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this thesis was to collect and systematically review evidential
research about the effectiveness of non-invasive treatment methods towards
managing pain. Articles from 2006 to 2014 were used to make sure the research is
most up to date. Articles that offered treatment for only latent trigger points were
omitted.
The method used to write this thesis was a systematic literature review. The search
was conducted in several databases such as Physiotherapy Evidence Database
(PEDro), PubMed, Science Direct, Academic Search Elite (EBSCO). Articles found
elsewhere were described as so.
The quality of studies was assessed according to PEDro scale. While some of them
already had a score, two of them had to be assessed manually by author of this thesis.
To summarize articles that made it through the selection criteria, PICO model was
used. After reviewing the selected studies, it is clear there is considerable amount of
non-invasive therapy methods. Physiotherapist can use these tools to relieve
symptoms and treat the conditions, which can cause pain for patients affected by
active myofascial trigger points. Studies in this thesis show that the majority of
manual, ischemic pressure, stretching and ultrasound techniques are effective tools to
treat myofascial trigger points and pain caused by them or are worthwhile to add
them to the current treatment plan to increase the effectiveness of problem
management. However, it is noted, that only 3 out of 9 studies analysed in this thesis
were moderate to high quality and therefore the reader has to make his own
conscious and critical decisions about the results whether it should be considered as a
treatment tool for his own use. Additionally, there might be a number of studies left
out from this thesis due to the mere facto of human.
research about the effectiveness of non-invasive treatment methods towards
managing pain. Articles from 2006 to 2014 were used to make sure the research is
most up to date. Articles that offered treatment for only latent trigger points were
omitted.
The method used to write this thesis was a systematic literature review. The search
was conducted in several databases such as Physiotherapy Evidence Database
(PEDro), PubMed, Science Direct, Academic Search Elite (EBSCO). Articles found
elsewhere were described as so.
The quality of studies was assessed according to PEDro scale. While some of them
already had a score, two of them had to be assessed manually by author of this thesis.
To summarize articles that made it through the selection criteria, PICO model was
used. After reviewing the selected studies, it is clear there is considerable amount of
non-invasive therapy methods. Physiotherapist can use these tools to relieve
symptoms and treat the conditions, which can cause pain for patients affected by
active myofascial trigger points. Studies in this thesis show that the majority of
manual, ischemic pressure, stretching and ultrasound techniques are effective tools to
treat myofascial trigger points and pain caused by them or are worthwhile to add
them to the current treatment plan to increase the effectiveness of problem
management. However, it is noted, that only 3 out of 9 studies analysed in this thesis
were moderate to high quality and therefore the reader has to make his own
conscious and critical decisions about the results whether it should be considered as a
treatment tool for his own use. Additionally, there might be a number of studies left
out from this thesis due to the mere facto of human.