title: Myofascial Pain Syndrome in the Elderly and Self-Exercise: A Single-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of self-exercise with a therapeutic inflatable ball (SEIB) in elderly patients with myofascial pain syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind, randomized, controlled noninferiority trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University campus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty elderly patients with myofascial pain syndrome completed the study. They were randomly allocated to SEIB (n = 22; mean age, 70.23 ± 6.11 years) or ultrasound (US) therapy (n = 18; mean age, 67.99 ± 5.64 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  SEIB and US therapy (twice weekly for 4 consecutive weeks).
  
  
  METHODS
  Visual analog scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), and cervical lateral flexion (CLF) were measured at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The noninferiority test indicated that SEIB was not inferior to US for VAS, PPT, and CLF. Between-group comparisons showed no significant differences in the VAS (F = 2.579; p = 0.117), the PPT (F = 0.245; p = 0.624), and the CLF (F = 2.072; p = 0.159). In within-group comparisons, both groups presented significant differences in VAS (SEIB after 1 week and US after 1 week), PPT (SEIB after 3 weeks and US after 4 weeks), and CLF (SEIB after 4 weeks and US after 4 weeks) compared with baseline values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SEIB for 4 weeks has an effect similar to that of US for desensitizing myofascial pain and increasing joint flexibility. High accessibility and low cost would make SEIB a practical self-treatment method in elderly patients with myofascial pain syndrome.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Minhee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Minyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 2 Functional and Applied Biomechanics Section, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Yushin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Sejun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Eulji University , Gyeonggido, South Korea .
authors.forename: Dongshin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Korea University , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: BumChul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy