Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable point within a tight band of voluntary
skeletal muscle. The condition causes levels of mild discomfort to intense pain to
patients that usually results in loss of man hours and compulsory pain medication. Dry
needling is the treatment of choice and other techniques are seldom considered. Dry
needling therapy (DNT) is an effective tool in the chiropractic profession but comes with
significant drawbacks, such as patients whom have needling phobias and patients who
often experience post needling soreness are challenging to treat with DNT. Further and
more serious risks include pneumothorax when needling the muscles over the lung
fields, which also limits the treatment scope of DNT. Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is
non-invasive and non-threatening to patients and could serve as an alternative to DNT.
This study therefore aimed, to determine if LLLT could be an alternative treatment to
DNT by comparing DNT to LLLT on a target group that all have active trapezius trigger
point two myofascial trigger points.
The group consisted of 40 participants with posterior trapezius myofascial neck pain
caused by active myofascial trapezius trigger points. Participants were then randomly
divided into two groups. Group A (20 participants) would receive DNT to the active
myofascialtrapezius trigger point two (TP2) and group B (20 participants) would receive
LLLT also to the active myofascial trapezius TP2. Participants would then be treated
according to a set protocol, over a two week period with a total of four treatments.
Subjective and objective readings were taken and noted on the first, third and fifth visits.
Subjective data was collected from the visual analogue scale and the Vernon-Minor
neck pain and disability index questionnaires. Whereas the cervical range of motion
(CROM) and algometer readings provided the objective data.