Relationships Between Active Myofascial Trigger Points and Depressive Symptoms and Physical and Clinical Characteristics of Individuals With Shoulder Pain: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between the presence and number of active myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in shoulder muscles and physical and demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, pain and function, range of motion (ROM), and strength in individuals with shoulder pain.

Methods

Fifty-eight individuals were assessed for physical and demographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, shoulder pain and function, MTPs (upper and lower trapezius, infraspinatus, and supraspinatus), shoulder ROM and strength test, and pain during ROM and strength test. Relationships were verified using point-biserial (r_pb), Spearman correlation test, and multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

We found weak to moderate (P < .05) correlations between presence and number of MTPs and depressive symptoms (r_pb, 0.28-0.32), pain during ROM (r_pb, 0.36-0.40), pain during strength test (r_pb, 0.29-0.38), and shoulder function (r_pb, –0.29 to 0.33) and strength (r_pb, 0.26-0.34). MTPs in the infraspinatus contributed 10% (R² = 0.10; P < .05) to depressive symptoms; in the upper and lower trapezius contributed 27% (R² = 0.27; P < .05) to pain during internal rotation ROM; in the upper trapezius contributed 15% (R² = 0.15; P < .01) to pain during internal rotation strength test and 14% to pain during internal rotation ROM (R² = 0.14; P < .01); and in the supraspinatus contributed 17% (R² = 0.17; P < .01) to pain during external rotation ROM.

Conclusion

This study found that MTPs in individuals with shoulder pain contributed to depressive symptoms and pain during internal and external rotation ROM and internal rotation strength test.