Article

This study aimed to compare continuous and pulsed ultrasound therapy
with sham ultrasound in terms of pain, severity of muscle spasm, function,
depression, and quality of life in patients with myofascial pain syndrome.
DESIGN: Patients were randomly divided into three groups, including the
continuous ultrasound group (3 MHz, 1 W/cm, n = 20), the pulsed ultrasound group
(3 MHz, 1 W/cm, 1:1 ratio, n = 20), and control group (sham, n = 20). The primary
outcome measures were severity of pain at rest and during activity (visual analog
scale, 0-10 cm). The secondary outcome measures were function (Neck Pain and
Disability Scale), depressive mood (Beck Depression Scale), and quality of life
(Nottingham Health Profile). All evaluations were performed at baseline, after
treatment, and at the 6th and 12th wks. RESULTS: All three groups had significant
improvements in all of the pain scores, the severity of muscle spasms, function
assessments, and certain subparameters of the quality of life scale (P < 0.05).
The continuous ultrasound group had significantly greater improvements in pain at
rest (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed
in the other parameters (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous ultrasound therapy is
more efficient in reducing pain at rest for myofascial pain syndrome patients
than is sham or pulsed ultrasound therapy.

Langue : ANGLAIS