title: Immediate effect of electric point stimulation (TENS) in treating latent upper trapezius trigger points: a double blind randomised placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of electric point stimulation in treating latent upper trapezius trigger points compared to placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double blind randomised placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anglo-European College of Chiropractic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty participants with latent upper trapezius trigger points.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electric point stimulator type of TENS, or detuned (inactive) electric point stimulator type of TENS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The three outcome measures were pressure pain threshold at the trigger point, a numerical rating scale for pain elicited over the trigger point, and lateral cervical flexion to the side opposite the trigger point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the outcome of pressure pain threshold the electric point stimulator group had a mean change of 0.49 (0.99) kg/cm(2), while the placebo group had a mean change of 0.45 (0.98) kg/cm(2) (t = 0.16, df = 58, p = 0.88). For change in pain over the trigger point, the electric point stimulator group had a mean decrease of 0.93 (0.87) points, while the placebo group had a mean decrease of 0.23 (0.97) points (t = 0.70, df = 58, p = 0.005). On the outcome of change in lateral cervical flexion the electric point stimulator group had a mean increase of 2.87 (4.55) degrees, while the placebo group had a mean increase of 1.99 (2.49) degrees (t = 0.92, df = 58, p = 0.36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electric point stimulator type of TENS is superior to placebo only in reduction of pain for treating latent upper trapezius trigger points.
authors.affiliation: Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, 13-15 Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, BH5 2DF, UK. hgemmell@aecc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gemmell
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hilland
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult