Analysis of chronic myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle of breast cancer survivors and women with neck pain

Author(s)

Dibai-Filho, Almir Vieira ^[1] ; de Jesus Guirro, Rinaldo Roberto ^[1] ; Koga Ferreira, Vania Tie ^[1] ; de Oliveira, Alessandra Kelly ^[1] ; de Almeida, Ana Maria ^[2] ; de Oliveira Guirro, Elaine Caldeira ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Med Sch Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biomech Med & Rehabil Locomotor Apparat, Postgrad Program Rehabil & Funct Performance, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Nursing Sch Ribeirao Preto, Dept Maternal Infant & Publ Hlth Nursing, Postgrad Program Nursing Publ Hlth, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF BODYWORK AND MOVEMENT THERAPIES; v. 22, n. 2, p. 237-241, APR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Myofascial trigger points are present in dysfunctioning muscles and are associated with several diseases. However, the scientific literature has not established whether myofascial trigger points of differing etiologies have the same clinical characteristics. Thus, the objective of the present study was to compare the intensity of myofascial pain, catastrophizing, and the pressure pain threshold at myofascial trigger points among breast cancer survivors and women with neck pain. This was a cross-sectional study that included women over 18 years old complaining of myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle region for more than 90 days, equally divided into breast cancer survivors (n = 30) and those with neck pain (n = 30). For inclusion, the presence of a bilateral, active, and centrally located trigger point with mean distance from C7 to acromion in the upper trapezius was mandatory. The measures of assessment were: pain intensity, catastrophizing, and the pressure pain threshold at the myofascial trigger points. A significant difference was observed only when comparing pain intensity (p < 0.001) between the breast cancer survivors (median score: 8.00 points, first quartile: 7.00 points, third quartile: 8.75 points) and women with neck pain (median score: 2.50 points, first quartile: 2.00 points, third quartile: 4.00 points). No significant difference was found between groups in catastrophizing and pressure pain threshold. The conclusion of this study was that breast cancer survivors have a higher intensity of myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle when compared to patients with neck pain, which indicates the need for evaluation and a specific intervention for the myofascial dysfunction of these women. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/09753-1 - Effectiveness of physiotherapeutic resources in the treatment of myofascial trigger points in patients with neck pain: blinded randomized clinical trial
• Grantee: Almir Vieira Dibai Filho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/19368-8 - Effectiveness of physiotherapy resources in the treatment of myofascial trigger points in patients with neck pain: blinded randomized clinical trial
• Grantee: Rinaldo Roberto de Jesus Guirro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants