ARTICLE Reduction of Spontaneous Electrical Activity and Pain Perception of Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Muscle through Trigger Point Compression and Passive Stretching

ABSTRACT. Objectives: Investigate the effects of ischemic compression [IC] technique and passive stretching [PS] in isolation and in combination on the reduction of spontaneous electrical activity [SEA] and perceived pain in trigger points [TrPs] located in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: Ninety participants with TrPs in the upper trapezius muscle were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: IC, PS, and IC + PS. TrP compression was applied on the TrP for three applications of 60 seconds each, followed by a 30-second rest period. PS was applied for three 45-second applications, with 30-second rest intervals. All patients received the same amount of therapy. Results: Significant decreases were found in pain perception and on SEA for all study partici-pants. The IC + PS group evidenced greater declines in pain perception and SEA when compared to the IC and PS groups. Conclusion: Because of ethical considerations, a control group design was not possible, thereby limiting the robustness of the findings. Although each technique significantly reduced pain percep-tion and SEA, the combination of IC and PS was superior, apparently because of the complementar