title: Comparison of the Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Interferential Therapy on the Upper Trapezius in Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and interferential therapy (IFT) both in combination with hot pack, myofascial release, active range of motion exercise, and a home exercise program on myofascial pain syndrome patients with upper trapezius myofascial trigger point.
  
  
  
  A total of 105 patients with an upper trapezius myofascial trigger point were recruited to this single-blind randomized controlled trial. Following random allocation of patients to three groups, three therapeutic regimens-control-standard care (hot pack, active range of motion exercises, myofascial release, and a home exercise program with postural advice), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation-standard care and IFT-standard care-were administered eight times during 4 wks at regular intervals. Pain intensity and cervical range of motions (cervical extension, lateral flexion to the contralateral side, and rotation to the ipsilateral side) were measured at baseline, immediately after the first treatment, before the eighth treatment, and 1 wk after the eighth treatment.
  
  
  
  Immediate and short-term improvements were marked in the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group (n = 35) compared with the IFT group (n = 35) and the control group (n = 35) with respect to pain intensity and cervical range of motions (P < 0.05). The IFT group showed significant improvement on these outcome measurements than the control group did (P < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation with standard care facilitates recovery better than IFT does in the same combination.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (TDD); Division of Physiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences (RWP); and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine (APK), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (HJS); and Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, City Campus, United Kingdom (MIJ).
authors.forename: Thusharika Dilrukshi
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Dissanayaka
authors.forename: Ranjith Wasantha
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pallegama
authors.forename: Hilari Justus
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Suraweera
authors.forename: Mark I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Anula Padma
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kariyawasam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009333:Neck / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult