Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evidence on the effectiveness of myofascial release
therapy to relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain and to improve joint mobility,
functioning level, and quality of life in pain sufferers.
Data sources and
review: Randomized controlled trials were systematically gathered from CENTRAL,
Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and PEDro databases. The methodological quality
of articles was assessed according to the Cochrane Collaboration's domain-based
framework. In addition, the effect sizes of main outcomes were calculated based
on reported means and variances at baseline and in follow-up. RESULTS: Of 513
identified records, 8 were relevant. Two trials focused on lateral epicondylitis
( N = 95), two on fibromyalgia ( N = 145), three on low back pain ( N = 152), and
one on heel pain ( N = 65). The risk of bias was considered low in three and high
in five trials. The duration of therapy was 30-90 minutes 4 to 24 times during
2-20 weeks. The effect sizes did not reach the minimal clinically important
difference for pain and disability in the studies of low back pain or
fibromyalgia. In another three studies with the high risk of bias, the level of
minimal clinically important difference was reached up to two-month follow-up.
CONCLUSION: Current evidence on myofascial release therapy is not sufficient to
warrant this treatment in chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Langue : ANGLAIS