The effects of the spray stretch and sustained pressure techniques for managing trigger points in the upper part of the trapezius muscle

Abstract

Introduction: Among the interventions used to manage trigger points in the upper part of the trapezius muscle, spray stretch and sustained pressure interventions are relatively poorly studied. This aim of this study was to determine the effects of the spray stretch and sustained pressure for the management of trigger points in the upper part of the trapezius muscle. Material and methods: A randomized clinical trial was perfofmed including 54 patients. The participants were randomly allocated into two treatment groups via the sealed envelope method. Group A received the spray stretch technique with conventional treatment while group B received the sustained pressure technique with conventional treatment. Both groups received six treatment sessions and were evaluated at baseline and after two weeks by pain pressure algometer, visual analogue scale, neck disability index, goniometer, and hospital anxiety depression scale. Results: Group B showed significantly more improvement in pain threshold (p < 0.05) than group A, while neck disability points were significantly decreased in Group A (p < 0.05) than group B. Group A showed more improvement in neck ranges (p < 0.05) than group B. Both groups showed significant improvements in anxiety and depression (p < 0.05). Group A demonstrated a greater improvement in anxiety score than group B. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in participant pain intensity (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Both the spray stretch and sustained pressure techniques were effective at increasing pain threshold, increasing cervical range of motion, decreasing neck disability, decreasing pain intensity and improving anxiety among patients with an upper trapezius trigger point.