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Efficacy of electroacupuncture for myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle: a case series

Eficácia da eletroacupuntura para dor miofascial do músculo trapézio: uma série de casos

Abstracts

BACKGROUND: Electroacupunture (EA) includes the passage of an electrical current through the acupuncture needle and is commonly used for pain relief. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the EA treatment effects for myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle. METHODS: Twenty women aged ranging from 18 to 40 years (mean=24.95; SD=5.88 years), with a body mass index ranging from 19 to 25 kg/m2 (mean=22.33; SD=0.56 kg/m2), with regular menstrual cycles controlled by oral contraceptive, local or referred pain for more than six months and at least one myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius participated in this study. The participants received a total of nine EA sessions over five weeks. The needles were inserted at the accupoints GB20, GB21, LV3, LI4, and at “ashi” points. A mixed current of 2 Hz and 100 Hz was applied alternatively every 5 seconds for 30 minutes. The outcomes were pain intensity measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT) measured by an algometer, electromyography (EMG) and quality of life measured by the SF-36 questionnaire. Inter-occurrences between sessions were monitored. Paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, and repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) having Tukey-Kramer as post-hoc tests were used. RESULTS: Significant improvement in pain intensity and in PPT occurred after treatment (P<0.0001). EMG of the right trapezius during contraction increased significantly, suggesting muscle function enhancement; the quality of life improved, related to physical components of the SF-36 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The EA showed to be a reliable method for myofascial pain relief. Large randomized blinded controlled trials might be carried out to confirm these results. Article registered in the Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos under number RBR-4hb6f6.

physical therapy; trigger points; electroacupuncture; electromyography; quality of life; pain threshold


CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A eletroacupuntura (EA) inclui a passagem de uma corrente elétrica pela agulha de acupuntura e é comumente utilizada para aliviar a dor. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da EA no tratamento da dor miofascial do músculo trapézio superior. MÉTODOS: Participaram 20 voluntárias com idade entre 18 e 40 anos (24,95±5,88 anos), índice de massa corpórea entre 19 e 25 kg/m2 (22,33±0,56 kg/m2), ciclo menstrual regulado por anticoncepcionais, dor por mais de seis meses no trapézio superior, com pelo menos um ponto gatilho miofascial. Nove sessões de EA foram agendadas, sendo duas por semana. As agulhas foram inseridas nos pontos VB20, VB21, F3, IG4 e em pontos ashi. Aplicou-se uma corrente alternada de 2 Hz e 100 Hz a cada 5 segundos durante 30 minutos. Avaliou-se a eficácia do tratamento quantificando a intensidade da dor com a Escala Visual Analógica (EVA); o limiar de dor à pressão (LDP), com algômetro digital, eletromiografia (EMG) e com o questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36. Possíveis fatores influenciadores entre as sessões foram monitorados. Aplicaram-se os testes t pareado, Wilcoxon e análise de variância com medidas repetidas (ANOVA) e, como post-hoc, o teste de Tukey-Kramer. RESULTADO: Após o tratamento, houve melhora na intensidade da dor e no LDP (P<0,0001). A EMG no trapézio direito, durante a contração, aumentou significativamente, sugerindo melhora da função muscular. A qualidade de vida melhorou considerando os componentes físicos do SF-36 (P<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A EA mostrou-se confiável no alívio da dor miofascial. Estudos randomizados, cegos e controlados devem ser realizados para confirmar esses resultados. Artigo registrado no Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos sob o número RBR-4hb6f6.

fisioterapia; pontos desencadeantes miofasciais; eletroacupuntura; eletromiografia; qualidade de vida; limiar da dor


Efficacy of electroacupuncture for myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle: a case series

Eficácia da eletroacupuntura para dor miofascial do músculo trapézio: uma série de casos

Maria F. M. AranhaI; Marcelo C. AlvesI; Fausto BérzinI; Maria B. D. GaviãoII

IDepartment of Morphology, Piracicaba Dental School, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

IIDepartment of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, UNICAMP

Correspondence to Correspondence to: Maria Beatriz Duarte Gavião Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba/UNICAMP, Av. Limeira, 901, CEP 13414-903, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil, E-mail: mbgaviao@fop.unicamp.br

ABSTRACT

Background: Electroacupunture (EA) includes the passage of an electrical current through the acupuncture needle and is commonly used for pain relief. Objective: To evaluate the EA treatment effects for myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: Twenty women aged ranging from 18 to 40 years (mean=24.95; SD=5.88 years), with a body mass index ranging from 19 to 25 kg/m2 (mean=22.33; SD=0.56 kg/m2), with regular menstrual cycles controlled by oral contraceptive, local or referred pain for more than six months and at least one myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius participated in this study. The participants received a total of nine EA sessions over five weeks. The needles were inserted at the accupoints GB20, GB21, LV3, LI4, and at “ashi” points. A mixed current of 2 Hz and 100 Hz was applied alternatively every 5 seconds for 30 minutes. The outcomes were pain intensity measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT) measured by an algometer, electromyography (EMG) and quality of life measured by the SF-36 questionnaire. Inter-occurrences between sessions were monitored. Paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, and repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) having Tukey-Kramer as post-hoc tests were used. Results: Significant improvement in pain intensity and in PPT occurred after treatment (P<0.0001). EMG of the right trapezius during contraction increased significantly, suggesting muscle function enhancement; the quality of life improved, related to physical components of the SF-36 (P<0.05). Conclusion: The EA showed to be a reliable method for myofascial pain relief. Large randomized blinded controlled trials might be carried out to confirm these results.

Article registered in the Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos under number RBR-4hb6f6* * The trial registration was performed a posteriori. .

Keywords: physical therapy; trigger points; electroacupuncture; electromyography; quality of life; pain threshold.

RESUMO

Contextualização: A eletroacupuntura (EA) inclui a passagem de uma corrente elétrica pela agulha de acupuntura e é comumente utilizada para aliviar a dor. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da EA no tratamento da dor miofascial do músculo trapézio superior. Métodos: Participaram 20 voluntárias com idade entre 18 e 40 anos (24,955,88 anos), índice de massa corpórea entre 19 e 25 kg/m2 (22,330,56 kg/m2), ciclo menstrual regulado por anticoncepcionais, dor por mais de seis meses no trapézio superior, com pelo menos um ponto gatilho miofascial. Nove sessões de EA foram agendadas, sendo duas por semana. As agulhas foram inseridas nos pontos VB20, VB21, F3, IG4 e em pontos ashi. Aplicou-se uma corrente alternada de 2 Hz e 100 Hz a cada 5 segundos durante 30 minutos. Avaliou-se a eficácia do tratamento quantificando a intensidade da dor com a Escala Visual Analógica (EVA); o limiar de dor à pressão (LDP), com algômetro digital, eletromiografia (EMG) e com o questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36. Possíveis fatores influenciadores entre as sessões foram monitorados. Aplicaram-se os testes t pareado, Wilcoxon e análise de variância com medidas repetidas (ANOVA) e, como post-hoc, o teste de Tukey-Kramer. Resultados: Após o tratamento, houve melhora na intensidade da dor e no LDP (P<0,0001). A EMG no trapézio direito, durante a contração, aumentou significativamente, sugerindo melhora da função muscular. A qualidade de vida melhorou considerando os componentes físicos do SF-36 (P<0,05). Conclusão: A EA mostrou-se confiável no alívio da dor miofascial. Estudos randomizados, cegos e controlados devem ser realizados para confirmar esses resultados.

Artigo registrado no Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos sob o número RBR-4hb6f6*.

Palavras-chave: fisioterapia; pontos desencadeantes miofasciais; eletroacupuntura; eletromiografia; qualidade de vida; limiar da dor.

Introduction

Muscle pain can be attributed to a myofascial pain disorder1. The incidence os muscle pain ranges from 30% to 93% depending on the subspecialty practice and setting. Epidemiological studies suggest that myofascial pain syndrome, which includes the presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) is an important musculoskeletal dysfunction2,3 and is considered one of main causes of headache and neck pain4. It was observed that active MTrPs were more common in subjects with mechanical neck pain than in healthy controls, but individuals without pain can have active or latent MTrPs in the trapezius muscle5. Moreover, persistent pain can influence the quality of life in symptomatic patients1.

The treatment of myofascial pain disorders requires that symptomatic MTrPs and muscles need to be identified as primary or ancillary pain generators. Acupuncture has been used by physical therapists as an alternative to more traditional treatments for musculoskeletal pain, since it denervates neurophysiologically or physically the neural loop of the trigger point, in order to reduce pain and muscle spasm5. Acupuncture stimulates points on the body, manually or electrically, by the insertion of needles to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to alter physiologic functions6. The electroacupuncture (EA) includes the passage of an electrical current through the needle7 and is supposed to be more effective in relieving pain than manual acupuncture8,9. Studies investigating EA mechanisms of action have revealed that endogenous opioid peptides in the central nervous system mediate the analgesic effects produced by this treatment10. Thus, the EA is applied at the acupuncture points for stimulating muscle nociceptors, which activate the endogenous antinociceptive system7. The World Health Organization endorsed more than 40 disorders that can benefit from acupuncture treatment11.

In order to verify the efficacy of interventions in myofascial pain relief, the pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pain intensity can be chosen as possible outcomes. The algometer is an objective method to accurately measure the PPT12. To assess the pain intensity, the visual analogic scale (VAS) has proven to be effective when compared to other instruments13. The efficacy of the treatment can be also evaluated by improvements in quality of life, being the SF-36 questionnaire a valid tool14.

Another method for testsing muscle disorders is electromyography (EMG), which assess the muscle function by capturing electrical signs deriving from an active muscle15 and evaluates different parameters, such as muscle relaxation16,17, muscle weakness18,19 and activity of motor units20,21. Long-term surface EMG recordings have revealed large inter-individual variation in trapezius activation patterns related to individual variation in structural factors (e.g., anatomy, fiber composition), contrasted by intra-individual consistency in repeated recordings likely representing an expression of idiosyncratic muscle activation patterns, i.e., motor habits22,23.

This study aimed to analyze the effect of EA in the treatment of MTrPs in patients with chronic pain due to myofascial dysfunction of the upper trapezius muscle, evaluating pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, muscle activity and quality of life.

Methods

This study was conducted at the electromyography laboratory of the Department of Morphology, Piracicaba Dental School, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, SP, Brasil. The Research Ethical Committee of Piracicaba Dental School, UNICAMP, approved the project (protocol 088/2008). The Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry number is UTN: U1111-1122-1815. The volunteers were asked to read and sign the consent form. They were informed about the procedures, discomfort or risks, the benefits as well as the needs to attend all sessions.

Women suffering from neck pain or headache were included. They were carefully examined in order to obtain information about their general health. The inclusion/exclusion criteria were: (1) Inclusion criteria: age ranging from 18 to 40 years, at least one MTrPs in the upper trapezius muscle, local or referred persistent pain for at least six months, regular menstrual cycles controlled by the use of oral contraceptive medication, and be right-handed. (2) Exclusion criteria: postural abnormalities (verified by the physical therapist), presence of fibromyalgia syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, systemic disease or therapeutic interventions for physical myofascial pain within the past month before the study, pregnancy, use of a pacemaker or electronic implants (informed by the subject). The continuous use of medications to treat headache and muscle pain was also considered an exclusion criterion. Moreover, if evident cognitive impairment or communication difficulties were observed by the examiner (MFMA) at the first meeting, the subject was excluded.

Initially, twenty-seven subjects were accessed for eligibility. Three of them were not included, since one was not taking oral contraceptive regularly, and two were older than 40 years, thus 24 were evaluated. From these, four did not present any MTrPs. The final sample was composed of 20 females. Their mean age was 24.95 (SD=5.88) years and the body mass index ranged from 19 to 25 kg/m2 (mean=22.33, SD=0.56 kg/m2). All volunteers were diagnosed as having latent MTrPs bilaterally. Each side was analyzed separately.

The treatment could not be initiating during the premenstrual phase or during menstruation and was conducted over four and a half weeks. The last treatment session coincided with the same menstrual phase than the first treatment session. Additionally, the use of oral contraceptive enabled the confidence about the cycle phase during sessions.

Instrumentation

The equipment used for the EA was the EL608NKL (ANVISA-80191680002). The stainless steel needles were individually wrapped, sterilized, and disposable with 0.25 mm in diameter and 30 mm in length (Dong-Bang, Korea).

The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess the intensity of pain. The scale consists of an horizontal line of 10 centimeters in length, with zero meaning “no pain” and 10 meaning “maximum pain”. The PPT was measured using a DDK/20 digital algometer (Kratos Industrial Equipment), containing a bar with a flat circular tip with 1 cm diameter.

The electromyographic signals were recorded using ADS1200 Lynx equipment with 8 channels, a gain variable of 1-16000, a sampling frequency of 2000 Hz for each channel, a band-pass filter of 20-500 Hz and a PCI A/D conversion with 14-bit resolution, where signals were scanned and stored in a computer. The electrodes were disposable passive bipolar of Ag/AgCl, in double circular format with 1 cm inter-electrode distance (Hal Indústria e Comércio Ltda, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) and a gain of 20 times. The reference electrode was positioned in the notch of the sternum in order to remove noise from the acquisition. Signal visualization and processing were performed with AqDAnalysis software. The EMG values were expressed by root mean square (RMS).

Quality of life was assessed by the Portuguese version of the SF-36, consisting of 36 questions that evaluates eight domains: physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, role-emotional, general health, vitality, social functioning and mental health. The psychometric properties of the SF-36 were previously tested14.

The additional data form (ADF) consisted of opened questions to be answered at the beginning of the sessions for monitoring inter-occurrences between sessions, such as traumas, headache, neck and shoulder pain, eventual medication and dose used. These inter-occurrences were asked because the latent MTrPs could turn active and referred pain could be arising spontaneously. Additionally, distressful conditions that could be occurred between sessions should be informed, since muscle tension can be expressed by anxiety and emotional tension1. Those conditions were considered as influencing factors, i.e., they could confound treatment effects. The pain intensity in every session was measured by the VAS.

Procedures

The diagnosis of MTrP was based on five criteria1,23: (1) presence of a palpable taut band in the muscle; (2) presence of a hypersensitive tender spot in a taut band; (3) local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band; (4) reproduction of the typical referred pain pattern of the MTrP in response to compression; (5) spontaneous presence of the typical referred pain pattern and/or recognition of the referred pain as familiar. If the first four criteria were satisfied, the MTrP was considered to be latent. If all of the criteria were present, the MTrP was considered to be active1,23. The participant was examined in prone position1.

All nine sessions were scheduled at the same time of the day. Each volunteer received two sessions per week. The scheduled sessions and procedures are shown in Figure 1. The SF-36 was applied at the beginning of the first and the ninth sessions, the ADF in the beginning of every session, following by the VAS; EMG and PPT were assessed during the first, third and ninth sessions.


During EA application, the patient remained sited in a chair. Needles were inserted bilaterally in the points GB21, GB20, LI4, LV324 and directly in the region of the MTrPs (using a maximum of four needles). The equipment was programmed as follows: alternating frequency F1=2 Hz, T1=5 seconds, F2=100 Hz, T2=5 seconds; total time: 30 minutes; intensity: maximum supported by the patient without pain. These parameters were used in all sessions.

To assess PPT, the algometry was first demonstrated on the forearm, so the volunteers could familiarize with the equipment25 and feel the pressure, which would be exerted on the trapezius muscles. After, the digital algometer was applied on upper trapezius, half way between the seventh cervical vertebra and the tip of the acromion bilaterally, increasing the pressure at a rate of 0.5 kgf/s until the volunteer reported a painful sensation. The procedure was repeated three times, and the mean value was considered.

EMG electrodes were placed at the upper trapezius muscle half way between the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) and acromion26. The exam was conducted with the participant seated on a chair. The participant was asked to maintain the trapezius muscle at a resting position for six seconds followed by raising both shoulders, keeping this position in isometric contraction for six seconds, prompted by an adequate verbal command. The volunteers had been previously trained to perform the required tasks. Each task was performed three times (with one minute interval) and the mean RMS was used.

Statistics

The assumptions of equality of variances and normal distribution of errors were checked for all variables using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Symmetry was quantified by skewness statistic and the values greater than 2 in absolute terms were treated as assymmetric. The student’s paired t-test was used when the normality was verified. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied to assymmetric data and the sign test to assymmetric data. Repeated measure analysis of variance with Mixed Models compared the fixed effect of the session, having Tukey-Kramer as post-hoc. Effect of volunteer was treated as random. A model was estimated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood and with an autoregressive matrix of covariance. For this analysis, the data before the EA application in each session and after the EA application were considered. The level of significance was set at 5%. It was used the SAS System (Release 9.1.3-SP 4. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA, 2002).

Results

The number of MTrPs found in the right upper trapezius during the first evaluation was 2.05 (SD=0.15) and on the left upper trapezius, 2.45 (SD=0.24). The mean value of pain duration was 5.55 (SD=0.86) years.

Intensity of pain

A reduction in pain intensity was observed on the upper trapezius muscle on both sides after all nine sessions (P<0.0001). From sessions 1 to 5 and sessions 8 and 9 the pain intensity was significantly lower after the EA on both sides (P<0.05). In session 6, only the left trapezius showed significant improvement after EA (P=0.012). In session 7, there was not a significant difference after EA (Figure 2).


The comparisons among sessions showed significant improvement in pain intensity in session 7 in relation to the first three sessions, before and after EA application, with the exception of the right trapezius in which the improvement was significant in session 8. These improvements were maintained until the end of the treatment.

Pain pressure threshold

The PPT increased significantly on both sides at the end of the treatment (P<0.0001), and after EA in the first, fifth and ninth sessions (P<0.0001) (Figure 3).


EMG

A significant increase in the EMG values of the right trapezius during isometric contraction was observed at the end of treatment (P=0.03). The left trapezius almost showed a significant increase, but the test failed to detect a significant difference at a 5% level (P=0.0506). However, the left trapezius showed a significant increase in the respective RMS values during isometric contraction before and after the EA in the ninth session (P=0.0468).

Quality of life (SF-36)

Statistically significant improvements were observed in the following domains: role-physical (P<0.05) and bodily pain (P<0.05) (Figure 4).


Additional Data Form (ADF)

Overall, there was an improvement concerning the data from the ADF (Figure 5). The reductions in the use of medications and the incidence of headache and pain in the trapezius between sessions are indicative of this improvement. At the sixth session, there was an increase in emotional factors and also in the number of volunteers who were in the menstrual phase.


Discussion

Pain intensity, PPT and ADF

The improvements in pain corroborate with previous studies, in which subjects were assessed after one27,28 or several sessions of EA29-31. At the right trapezius, after the third session, the analgesic effect was maintained until the next session, suggesting a cumulative effect of EA. In the left trapezius, this effect was observed in the beginning of treatment. Despite that, the carryover effects of the EA should be determined with a control group that was not used in this study and should be considered as a limitation. However, there was a recurrence of pain in both sides at the sixth session (Figures 2 and 3). It can be speculated that this worsening of pain may be related to the menstrual cycle, since at the sixth session, 30% of volunteers were in the follicular phase, when pain threshold may be decresead25.

The timing of the menstrual cycle was considered for starting the treatment. In accordance with members of the Sex, Gender and Pain Special Interest Group of the International Association for the Study of Pain32 if menstrual cycle itself is not a factor to be evaluated, the research should plan to evaluate females in the same phase of their cycle, since both absolute and relative hormonal levels could influence pain. Start date of the last menstrual period can be reliably obtained from self-report. Additionally, all volunteers were using contraception medication guarantying that women with irregular cycles were included32. Moreover, in the sixth session, an increase in the use of medications occurred, as well as an increase in the emotional factors, such as family problems, problems in employment or academic examinations, and neck and shoulder pain, which may have influenced the recurrence of pain at that time. Nevertheless, we did not intend to quantify the influencing factors upon the treatment results, inferring that further researches may take into account those variables.

The parameters for the EA equipment were adjusted in the same way for all volunteers, who received the same stimulus. A change in stimulus, considering individual needs is likely to provide analgesic effects in a shorter period of time; as this preliminary study has not blinded the examiner, the same stimulus for all volunteers might minimize possible bias. The advantage of a dense-and-disperse mode of stimulation designed, where 2 Hz was automatically alternating with 100 Hz, evoking the release of both opioid peptides, the enkephalins and dynorphins, resulting in a synergistic interaction, was previously found33,34, corroborated in women undergoing major gynecological procedures35, and in normal volunteers, who received electric stimulation over the anterior aspect of the dominant forearm36.

There was an increase in the PPT after all evaluated sessions (1, 5, 9) and also at the end of treatment, indicating lower pain sensitivity, demonstrating the effectiveness of EA. Other studies that involved the treatment with EA found similar results after one treatment session28 and after 10 sessions29. There was no recurrence of pain, as observed in the pain intensity by VAS, which may have occurred as a result of the sessions in which the data were evaluated. Besides the influence of the follicular phase of menstrual cycle upon pain intensity, as cited above, the controversial results, considering VAS and PPT, could be explained by the fact that the VAS score has a subjective and emotional components37, whereas in pressure algometry the reference is more quantitative and associated with nociceptive sensibility based on a mechanical stimulus28. Moreover, the points chosen for algometry were close to the points of insertion needles, generating electrical stimulus and enhancing local effect during assessment, as previously observed23. Furthermore, no analgesic effects were observed leaving the needle in situ without movement or electrical stimulation35. Thus, it may be interesting to try EA rather than using only manual needling in randomized controlled trials11.

EMG

At rest, there was no significant difference between RMS values in each session or in the whole treatment, likely by the presence of latent MTrPs. Chou et al.38 observed a significant reduction in the upper trapezius EMG signal at rest after dry needling of the MTrP. The differences between studies are probably due to the type of MTrP but may also be due to the technique applied. They treated active MTrPs with RMS values at rest close to 7 μv and obtained values close to 3 μv after the dry needling, which is very similar to those obtained in the current study before treatment. Indeed, the data provided by EMG at rest were not reliable for detecting respective muscle alterations, despite the fact that the pain had been clinically observed.

Beyond pain, muscles with MTrPs generally present associated symptoms as muscular weakness. Although a measurement of strength was not considered, the increase in the EMG during the sustained contraction of right trapezius could indicate an improvement of muscle function and an effective action of EA upon myofascial pain. Although the left trapezius did not demonstrate similar results, the lack of significance should be carefully interpreted. Moreover, all volunteers were right-handed, so the right side was less prone to muscle fatigue (EMG) than the left39. The extended preferential use of a muscle can induce changes in the muscle fiber membrane and its regulatory properties, justifying the difference in behavior39. Perhaps these changes interfered with muscle recovery. It was already demonstrated that EMG of the upper trapezius during contraction in subjects with pain showed lower RMS values when compared to the normal controls40,41.

Quality of life

There was improvement in the quality of life after treatment with EA, especially in the domains “Role-Physical” and “Bodily Pain”. Díaz Arribas et al.42 using SF-36 to assess volunteers with low back pain also noted an improvement in quality of life after 15 sessions and improvement in pain, in the domains “physical components” and “mental elements”. The two areas with significant improvement in the present study belong to the “physical components”. It is possible that the absence of the influence of pain symptoms in the other SF-36 domains occurred due to the shorter treatment period and the lower number of sessions. No improvement in the quality of life (SF-36) after six sessions of EA was found, due to any significant improvement in chronic pain43. Moreover, the volunteers’ MTrPs in the present study were latent, and consequently did not incapacitate them and did not influence all SF domains, despite the clinical improvement.

Study limitations

For further studies, the monitoring of the force during isometric contraction using a load cell could improve the EMG data collection, since it offers a way for reliable evaluations concerning their maximum effort, allowing more consistent data analysis.

Although the small sample was a potential limitation, the improvement obtained with EA was sufficient to consider its efficacy on pain in the trapezius muscle, adding one more option for physical therapists. Considering the expected preliminary results, each volunteer was their own control, since pain subjectivity could cause misinterpretation on comparing different individuals. Nevertheless, further randomized blinded controlled trials must be conduct with larger sample including other treatments, as well as different types of pain, in order to validate our findings. In this context, we determined the sample size, basing in the statistical power of 0.90. A two-sided test with α=0.05 was applied in accordance with the experimental conditions : for pain intensity, considering the null mean=0, the alternate mean=1.5, and the standard deviation=2.5, the sample size must be composed by 32 subjects. For pain pressure threshold, the respective values were 0.50 and 0.80 indicating 29 subjects, whereas for electrical activity 40 and 70, indicating 35 subjects. Our results with 20 volunteers showed a power of 0.70 for pain intensity, 0.75 for pain pressure threshold and 0.67 for EMG. The determined sample sizes for a power of 0.90 will guarantee more reliable answers for clinical questions.

In summary, EA was effective to relief myofascial pain in the studied sample, since decrease pain intensity and pain pressure threshold decreased. There was an increase in EMG during contraction of right trapezius at the end of treatment and in the left one during last session, suggesting muscle function enhancement provided by EA. Furthermore, the quality of life was improved, related to physical components domain of the SF-36. In accordance with these preliminary findings, the electroacupuncture can be considered a relevant tool for the management of myofascial pain in the health area, specifically in the Physical therapy.

Aknowledgments

The Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). Financial support from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the acquisition of EMG equipment is greatly appreciated. The authors thank the volunteers for their participation.

Received: 09/14/2010

Revised: 03/02/2011

Accepted: 06/29/2011

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  • Correspondence to:

    Maria Beatriz Duarte Gavião
    Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba/UNICAMP, Av. Limeira,
    901, CEP 13414-903, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil,
    E-mail:
  • *
    The trial registration was performed a posteriori.
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      14 Oct 2011
    • Date of issue
      Oct 2011

    History

    • Received
      14 Sept 2010
    • Reviewed
      02 Mar 2011
    • Accepted
      29 June 2011
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