200 Section - Effect of Myofascial release alone vs combined with steroid injection on myofascial pain syndrome

Prospective double-blind study

Informed consents were signed by all patients.

60 patients with documented myofascial pain syndrome of neck and upper back were included and randomized into two groups: Group I receive myofascial release, Group II received myofascial release and steroid injection of trigger point.

All patients had musculoskeletal and neurological exam, initial Visual analogue scale for pain (VAS) , glycosylated hemoglobin Hg A1c

Both groups received myofascial release for the trigger points 10 sessions over 10 weeks, Group II received trigger point injection of triamcinolone and lidocaine 2% to trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, latissimus, rhomboids

At the end VAS measured for both groups

Results:

Group I 7males & 23 females. Group II 5 males and 25 females

Mean age of group I 73.6±11.2, Group II 54.3±6.1, with significant difference between groups p=0.001

6 patients of Group I were diabetic while 8 patients of group II were.

Mean initial VAS Group I 9 ± 0.7 Group II VAS 9.3±0.8. without significant difference between groups. VAS significantly dropped for both groups. Group I 4.1±1.2 p=0.005, Group II 2.9 ±0.8 p=0.0001, with higher significant drop-in Group II p=0.002

Conclusion:

Myofascial release significantly relieves pain of myofascial pain syndrome of the neck and upper back . Adding steroid injection of the trigger point increase the significance of pain relief