title: The effect of interactive neurostimulation therapy on myofascial trigger points associated with mechanical neck pain: a preliminary randomized, sham-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of interactive neurostimulation (INS) therapy on the treatment of pain associated with myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in adults with mechanical neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a preliminary, randomized, sham-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The trial was conducted in a tertiary-care institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 23 adults with pain and MTPs in the neck or shoulder lasting>2 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  INS (active or sham) was delivered for 10 minutes in a single session over the MTP area in each patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immediately following the intervention, subjects were tested for pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and 10-cm visual analogue scale score (VAS) for pain intensity. At the 5 day follow-up, two additional tests were performed: the neck disability index (NDI) and the patient specific functional scale (PSFS) for function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvements in function (PSFS) were observed in the treatment group, which were of clinical significance in selected subjects. These effects were statistically greater than those obtained in the sham group but were overall not at a level of clinical significance in this small population. Improvements in pain intensity (VAS) and neck disability (NDI) were observed in both the treatment and sham groups, indicating that INS had no greater benefit using these measures. There was no change in PPTs following either the active or sham treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  INS is a new and emerging therapy, which may be efficacious for managing musculoskeletal conditions, such as myofascial pain syndrome. This study demonstrated improvements in function in individuals with MTPs following INS therapy, which may be of clinical significance in certain patients with neck or shoulder pain. Further large-scale clinical trials are required to confirm this effect and to determine if INS also reduces pain and neck disability.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia. s.schabrun@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Siobhan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schabrun
authors.forename: Ash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cannan
authors.forename: Rhys
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mullens
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunphy
authors.forename: Tate
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Clarence
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Lucy S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chipchase
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold; D011312:Pressure; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D061028:Trigger Points; D055815:Young Adult