In 2009, randomized controlled study conducted by Aguilera, et. al., from CEU-Cardenal Herrera University in Valencia, Spain, aimed to investigate the immediate effects of ultrasound (US) and ischemic compression (IC) as treatment methods for myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the trapezius muscle. This study focused on healthy subjects diagnosed with latent MTrPs and explored various outcome measures to evaluate the effectiveness of these therapeutic modalities.

The study involved 66 volunteers from the university personnel, all of whom had latent MTrPs in their trapezius muscle. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: G1 received IC treatment for MTrPs, G2 received ultrasound treatment, and G3 (control group) received sham ultrasound. The researchers measured the following parameters before and after each treatment: active range of motion (AROM) of the cervical spine using a cervical range of motion instrument, basal electrical activity (BEA) of the trapezius muscle using surface electromyography, and pressure tolerance of the MTrPs using a visual analogue scale that assessed local pain evoked by the application of 2.5 kg/cm(2) of pressure with a pressure analog algometer.

The findings of the study demonstrated an immediate decrease in BEA of the trapezius muscle and a reduction in sensitivity of the MTrPs following treatment with both IC and ultrasound. Furthermore, the IC treatment group showed an improvement in AROM of the cervical spine. These results indicate a positive correlation between AROM, BEA, and MTrP sensitivity in the trapezius muscle, with short-term benefits observed when using IC.

This study provides valuable insights into the immediate effects of IC and ultrasound as treatments for latent MTrPs in the trapezius muscle. The results suggest that both therapeutic modalities have a positive impact on MTrPs, leading to a decrease in BEA and improved pain sensitivity. Additionally, IC treatment demonstrated an additional benefit by improving the AROM of the cervical spine. These findings highlight the potential of IC and ultrasound as effective interventions for managing trapezius MTrPs, emphasizing the importance of considering these techniques in clinical practice. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and compare the efficacy of these treatments with other interventions.

Reference: Aguilera, F. J. M., Martín, D. P., Masanet, R. A., Botella, A. C., Soler, L. B., & Morell, F. B. (2009). Immediate effect of ultrasound and ischemic compression techniques for the treatment of trapezius latent myofascial trigger points in healthy subjects: a randomized controlled study. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 32(7), 515-520.