Analgesic effect of whole body cryotherapy in patients with trapezius myofascial pain syndrome: A longitudinal, non-blinded, experimental study

Objective

To determine the analgesic effect of whole body cryotherapy (WBC) in patients with trapezius myofascial pain syndrome.

Methods

Twenty patients from an outpatient rehabilitation clinic were recruited. Patients were required to have clinical data for their diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome in the trapezius. Twenty WBC sessions (−160 °C) were prescribed at four sessions per week for five weeks. A visual analog scale for pain (VAS) and algometry at trigger points (TPs) were applied before and after each session to measure the Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT). Six blood samples per patient were obtained during the study to measure the serum concentration of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Results

A significant decrease in pain immediately after WBC was found from session 1 (p < 0.001) onwards. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed in VAS at baseline compared to the value before each cryotherapy session starting from session 6 (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found in algometry at each session (p < 0.001) and when comparing the initial and pre-session values starting from session 6 (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the concentrations of inflammatory or anti-inflammatory factors throughout the study (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

WBC is useful as an analgesic treatment for myofascial pain syndrome in trapezius.’