Abstract
Abstract : Purpose: Soft tissue mechanotherapy can have an effect and be of benefit to muscle tissue, because of the mechanosensitivity of the muscle, by shortening the recovering time after exercise, improving muscle strength after the application of device-assisted soft tissue manipulation, offsetting the effects of aging and facilitating the healing process. The effect of device-assisted soft tissue manipulation on myofascial trigger points and its effects on clinical outcomes needs to be further investigated, which this study aims to do. Design: Thirty participants between the ages of 18 and 50 years old presenting with active hamstring myofascial trigger points were included in this study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of 15 participants each (group A and group B). Group A received ischemic compression and group B received therapeutic massage with a percussive device on the active trigger point in the hamstring muscle. Each participant was treated six times over a period of three weeks. Measurements: All measurements were collected at the first and fourth consultations prior to treatment and on the seven consultation, where no treatment was performed. The subjective measurements included the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Objective measurements included pressure algometric readings of pressure pain threshold of the hamstring muscle trigger points, and hamstring extensibility was recorded using a baseline goniometer. vii Results and Conclusion: The outcome of this study suggests that patients with hamstring trigger point pain can be treated effectively with each approach, as active trigger points respond well to both ischemic compression and therapeutic massage with a percussive device. Both groups showed a reduction in self-reported pain, an increase in pain pressure threshold and an increase in hamstring extensibility over active hamstring trigger points.
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)