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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

High prevalence of shoulder girdle muscles with myofascial trigger points in patients with shoulder pain

Authors: Carel Bron, Jan Dommerholt, Boudewijn Stegenga, Michel Wensing, Rob AB Oostendorp

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2011

Abstract

Background

Shoulder pain is reported to be highly prevalent and tends to be recurrent or persistent despite medical treatment. The pathophysiological mechanisms of shoulder pain are poorly understood. Furthermore, there is little evidence supporting the effectiveness of current treatment protocols. Although myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are rarely mentioned in relation to shoulder pain, they may present an alternative underlying mechanism, which would provide new treatment targets through MTrP inactivation. While previous research has demonstrated that trained physiotherapists can reliably identify MTrPs in patients with shoulder pain, the percentage of patients who actually have MTrPs remains unclear. The aim of this observational study was to assess the prevalence of muscles with MTrPs and the association between MTrPs and the severity of pain and functioning in patients with chronic non-traumatic unilateral shoulder pain.

Methods

An observational study was conducted. Subjects were recruited from patients participating in a controlled trial studying the effectiveness of physical therapy on patients with unilateral non-traumatic shoulder pain. Sociodemographic and patient-reported symptom scores, including the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire, and Visual Analogue Scales for Pain were compared with other studies. To test for differences in age, gender distribution, and education level between the current study population and the populations from Dutch shoulder studies, the one sample T-test was used. One observer examined all subjects (n = 72) for the presence of MTrPs. Frequency distributions, means, medians, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for descriptive purposes. The Spearman's rank-order correlation (ρ) was used to test for association between variables.

Results

MTrPs were identified in all subjects. The median number of muscles with MTrPs per subject was 6 (active MTrPs) and 4 (latent MTrPs). Active MTrPs were most prevalent in the infraspinatus (77%) and the upper trapezius muscles (58%), whereas latent MTrPs were most prevalent in the teres major (49%) and anterior deltoid muscles (38%). The number of muscles with active MTrPs was only moderately correlated with the DASH score.

Conclusion

The prevalence of muscles containing active and latent MTrPs in a sample of patients with chronic non-traumatic shoulder pain was high.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/12/139/prepub

Title: High prevalence of shoulder girdle muscles with myofascial trigger points in patients with shoulder pain
Authors: Carel Bron
Jan Dommerholt
Boudewijn Stegenga
Michel Wensing
Rob AB Oostendorp
Publication date: 01-12-2011
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-139

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

High prevalence of shoulder girdle muscles with myofascial trigger points in patients with shoulder pain

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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