The relative effectiveness of cryotherapy and moist heat in the treatment of myofascial pain syndromes

Abstract

Myofasciitis IS a very common yet misunderstood problem. There are many treatments available yet there is no research to substantiate which of the many treatments available is the most effective (Travell and Simons 1983:6). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative effectiveness of Cryotherapy versus moist heat in the treatment of myofasciitis of the shoulder girdle muscles. Patients for this comparative, randomized clinical trial were obtained by consecutive sampling. Any patient between eighteen and fifty-five presenting to the Chiropractic Clinic at Technikon Natal with neck pain, upper back pain or shoulder paIn was considered a potential candidate. Thirty patients underwent a screening process to assess their viability for the study. This screening procedure consisted of questions regarding the pattern of pain referral and of palpation of the relevant zones for muscle spasm, twitch responses, patient jump sign and/or referred palll. The thirty patients were randomly divided into two groups of fifteen. One group received cold and passive stretching and the other group received moist heat and passive stretching. Each patient was treated five times within a three week period. Thereafter a follow-up appointment was scheduled one month after the final treatment to assess the long term effects of the treatments . The subjective information was questionnaires: (1) the CMCC Neck Numerical Pain Rating Scale-l0l assessed us Ing three Disability Index, (2) the and (3) the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. These three forms were used to subjectively assess vanaus aspects of the patient's pain. Patients were required to fill these forms out at the first and