Effectiveness of Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Cervical Pain in Upper Trapezius Trigger Points: A Quasi-Experimental Study: Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Cervical Pain in MTrPs

Waqas Ahmed; Ayesha Tasadduq; Syeda Riffat Sherazi; Fasiha Sohail; Muhammad Asif; Nasir Mehmood

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v9i2.1336

Authors

Waqas Ahmed Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Ayesha Tasadduq Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Syeda Riffat Sherazi Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Fasiha Sohail Department of Medicine, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan
Muhammad Asif Department of Rehabilitation and Health Sciences, Nazeer Hussain University, Karachi, Pakistan
Nasir Mehmood Department of Physical Therapy, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v9i2.1336

Keywords:

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, Upper Trapezius, Myofascial Trigger Points, Neck Pain

Abstract

Upper trapezius myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are a common cause of chronic neck pain. Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) has emerged as a soft-tissue technique designed to modulate myofascial restrictions and pain, but evidence comparing IASTM with conventional physiotherapy for upper trapezius MTrPs remains limited. Objectives: To compare the effects of IASTM versus conventional physiotherapy on pain intensity and trigger points in patients with chronic neck pain with active upper trapezius MTrPs. Methods: This experimental comparative study recruited 50 participants with chronic cervical pain and clinically confirmed active upper trapezius MTrPs from different physiotherapy clinics in Karachi and allocated them to Group A (IASTM; n = 25) or Group B (conventional physiotherapy; n=25). Group A received a Graston-type IASTM protocol while Group B received hot packs, manual stretching, cervical range-of-motion exercises, postural correction, and manual soft-tissue mobilization. Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention after four weeks using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and trigger-point palpation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and repeated measures ANOVA, taking p<0.050 as the level of significance. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement; however, Group A demonstrated greater reductions in pain and disability. NPRS decreased from 8.68 ± 0.85 to 3.56 ± 0.87 in Group A and from 8.28 ± 0.84 to 5.56 ± 0.82 in Group B (p=0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that IASTM produces significantly greater improvements in pain and trigger points than conventional physiotherapy in patients with chronic neck pain due to upper trapezius myofascial trigger points.

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