Effectiveness of Topical Agents in Management of Pain Associated with Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome-A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Various invasive and non-invasive treatment modalities have been performed for the treatment of Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS). Topical agents may be effective with minimal disadvantages, and can be the first line of non-invasive treatment option in the management of MPDS. This systematic review was done to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of topical agents and patches in the management of pain associated with MPDS as a non-invasive management option. According to PRISMA guidelines, the PubMed, Embase, Web of science and Cochrane engine databases were searched for clinical trials which were published till July 2023. A total of 5 articles met the study inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from these studies and a qualitative analysis was performed. Topical agents in forms of ointment, gels and patches was found to improve the pain symptoms along with better quality of life and range of motion in patients with MPDS. This systematic review showed that topical interventions provide a non-invasive option for pain management in MPDS, demonstrating efficacy compared to placebo with a favorable safety profile. However, direct comparisons with invasive methods are limited and further studies directly comparing topical and invasive interventions are needed before establishing them as a first-line treatment.