Combination of exercise and acupuncture vs acupuncture alone for treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder. This study was designed to compare the effects of aerobic exercise plus acupuncture with acupuncture alone in treatment of patients with MPS. Sixty four patients (55 female and 9 male) with myofascial pain syndrome in their neck and shoulders participated in the study with mean age of 33.1آ± 6.4. Participants were randomly allocated to aerobic exercise plus acupuncture (n = 32) or acupuncture alone (n = 32) groups. Outcome measurements included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Quality of Life which was measured with QoL-SF36 scale. Each group received ten sessions of acupuncture in combination with aerobic exercise or acupuncture alone. The outcome measures were evaluated at baseline, at the end of the last treatment session, and at one month follow up visit. While participants were waiting for their one month follow up visit, the patients who received combination therapy were asked to continue their aerobic exercise by jogging 40 minutes a day. Although mean VAS, PPT, NDI and QoL-SF36 were significantly improved in both groups (P<0.001), there was no statistically significant difference among the measures between the two groups throughout the evaluated sessions. The interaction effect of time and groups did not show any significant difference among the outcome measures( P>0.29.