title: Effects of burst-type transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on cervical range of motion and latent myofascial trigger point pain sensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of a burst application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on cervical range of motion and pressure point sensitivity of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-session, single-blind randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  General community rehabilitation clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals (N = 76; 45 men, 31 women) aged 18 to 41 years (mean ± SD, 23 ± 4y) with latent MTrPs in 1 upper trapezius muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: a TENS group that received a burst-type TENS (pulse width, 200 μs; frequency, 100 Hz; burst frequency, 2 Hz) stimulation over the upper trapezius for 10 minutes, and a placebo group that received a sham-TENS application over the upper trapezius also for 10 minutes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Referred pressure pain threshold (RPPT) over the MTrP and cervical range of motion in rotation were assessed before, and 1 and 5 minutes after the intervention by an assessor blinded to subjects' treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of covariance revealed a significant group × time interaction (P < .001) for RPPT: the TENS group exhibited a greater increase compared with the control group; however, between-group differences were small at 1 minute (0.3 kg/cm²; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-0.4) and at 5 minutes (0.6 kg/cm²; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8) after treatment. A significant group × time interaction (P=.01) was also found for cervical rotation in favor of the TENS group. Between-group differences were also small at 1 minute (2.0°; 95% CI, 1.0-2.8) and at 5 minutes (2.7°; 95% CI, 1.7-3.8) after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 10-minute application of burst-type TENS increases in a small but statistically significant manner the RPPT over upper trapezius latent MTrPs and the ipsilateral cervical range of motion.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain. alrodfer@ceu.es
authors: Angel L
authors: AL
authors: Rodríguez-Fernández
authors: Víctor
authors: V
authors: Garrido-Santofimia
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Güeita-Rodríguez
authors: César
authors: C
authors: Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult