• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.32-36
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• 2001

Background: There is no reliable objective test for the diagnosis of myofascial pain syndromes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a pressure algometer for the diagnosis of the trigger points and for the evaluation of the treatment in myofascial pain syndromes (MPS). Methods: Twenty female patients with clinical MPS of shoulder were included in this study. Pressure pain thresholds were measured by a pressure algometer at three different sites including the trapezius, supraspinatus and infraspinatus before, and then the 1st, 3rd and 7th days after TPI. Results: Mean pressure pain thresholds were lower in patients with MPS in than normal volunteers in all the examined skeletal muscles. Mean pressure pain thresholds in patients with MPS were increased significantly after TPI in all the examined skeletal muscles. Conclusions: Pressure algometer can be used as relatively objective diagnostic tool for locating trigger points and to quantify the effect of TPI in MPS. However, more investigation is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.413-422
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• 1995

The trigger point phenomenon is an extremely common syndrome in physical therapy room. The symptoms created by these syndromes may be interpreted as originating in discogneic disease, nerve entrapment syndromes, viscerosomatic pain, and certain myalgic pain of unknown etiology. Injuries, viral or bacterial infections, immobilization, psychogenic stress, and other environment factors can preciptate and perpetuate these syndromes, which may occur in any of the voluntary muscles of the human body and thus lead to a multitude of myofascial pain syndromes. Obviously symptomatic treatment can meet with only partial success. Knowledge of the trigger point phenomenon will aid the diagnostician in understanding otherwise in explicable symptom. The trigger point are $2{\sim}5mm$ in diameter, hyperirritable palpable taut in a tissue, when compressed, is locally tender, if sufficiently hypersensitive, give rise to referred pain and tenderness, and sometimes to referred automatic phenomena and distortion of proprioception. The treatment of myofascial trigger point pain syndrome is not difficult once the source of the problem has been determined. Where as many modalities may be used, two of the most effective are spray-and stretch and TP injection. These can be followed by deep massage, specific, manual resistive exercise, and an exercise program which the patient can follow at home. The goal of management is to inactivate the TPs and to restore shortened and stretch resistent muscles to their full range of motion. The purpose of this case study was to know about the pathophysiologic mechanism of the trigger point and will enable to physical therapist to direct his treatment to the real source of trouble.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.21-28
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• 2020

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this meta-analysis study was to identify the degree-of-effect size and the variables for the effects of manual physical therapy on myofascial pain syndrome. METHODS: This study collected six studies published between 2015.01.01 and 2019.12.31. The analysis result verified nine effect size data. The random-effect model was chosen because of the heterogeneity of the data. RESULTS: First, the full case showed the largest mean effect size of 2.297 (p < .001). Second, the size of the effect based on the fascial distortion model (FDM) intervention showed an effect size of 4.654 (p < .001). Third, the number of participants showed a 15 or less effect size of 2.612 (p > .058). The number of treatments showed a 10 less effect size of 2.844 (p > .129). The publication type showed a thesis effect size of 3.095 (p < .002). CONCLUSION: Manual physical therapy has a great effect on myofascial pain syndrome in the neck and shoulders, and that the effects differ according to the methods of intervention.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.258-263
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• 2021

Purpose: Myofascial syndrome is a chronic muscle pain caused by repetitive motions with stress-related muscle tension. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the evidence for diagnosing myofascial pain syndrome in trapezius muscle using a pressure algometer and surface electromyography. Methods: The experiments were performed using a total of 10 subjects, and the target locations were determined by means of a pressure algometer in the right upper trapezius muscle. The part with the lowest pain value as the trigger point and the part with the highest pain value as the non-pain trigger point were selected for measuring the locations. The median frequency and average frequency were measured in those locations with electromyography. To check the muscle fatigue, the upper trapezius muscle was moved up and down for 2 seconds at 5-second intervals in 30 seconds. The measured values were evaluated using the independent paired t-test and MannWhitney U-test. Results: The median frequency at the non-trigger point (13.7) was significantly higher than that at the trigger point (7.3). Furthermore, the mean frequency (14.7) at the non-trigger point was significantly higher than that at the trigger point (6.3). Conclusion: The results showed the correlations between the trigger points of the muscle pain and frequency analysis of surface electromyography. Thus, this study may be possible to use as a diagnostic tool for myofascial pain syndrome.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.222-227
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• 2020

Purpose: The primary purposes of this study were to identify the degree of the effect size and the variables related to it on the effects of physical therapy on myofascial pain syndrome. Methods: This study collected 15 studies published between 2008.01.01 and 2019.12.31. The Analysis results confirmed 57 effect size data. The random-effect model was chosen because of the heterogeneity of the data. Results: First, the full case showed the largest mean effect size of 2.03 (p<0.001). Second, the size of the effect, according to the handson intervention, was 2.74 (p<0.003). Third, the VAS showed an effect size of 2.30 (p<0.001). Fourth, the intervention period showed a 1- to 15-day effect size of 2.94 (p<0.001). The number of interventions showed a 6 to 10 effect size of 2.84 (p<0.006). The number of participants showed a 10 or less effect size of 2.66 (p<0.001). Finally, the 'Trim and Fill' result confirmed that the calibration effect size was 0.93 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Physical therapy had a great effect on myofascial pain syndrome in the neck and shoulders, and that the effect differed according to the methods of the intervention and the methods of evaluation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.117-125
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether and how the biopsychosocial features of myofascial pain (MFP) differ from those of local myalgia (LM) in temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Methods: Patients with TMD were retrospectively evaluated using the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. All patients completed a series of self-administered questionnaires on pain severity and pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory, BPI), pain disability (Graded Chronic Pain Scale, GCPS), psychological distress (Symptom Check List-90-Revised, SCL-90R), pain cognition (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS), and subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI). Among all the TMD diagnoses, muscle pain was classified into the MFP group and LM group. Results: This study included 917 patients with myalgia (MFP: 266, LM: 651). Significant differences were observed in the female ratio (78.9% for MFP, 60.9% for LM, p<0.001) and the mean pain duration (MFP: 25.3 months, LM: 15.8 months, p=0.001) between the two groups. Patients with MFP exhibited higher pain severity (p=0.003) and pain interference (p<0.001) of BPI than those with LM. Furthermore, the global scores of the PCS (p<0.001) and PSQI (p<0.001) were higher in the MFP group than in the LM group. The MFP group had higher global symptom index (p=0.017) and five subscales of the SCL-90R than the LM group. Compared with the LM group (33.4%), the greater proportion of high disability of GCPS was observed in the MFP group (44.9%) (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that sex (p=0.002), pain duration (p=0.019), pain disability (p=0.010), and subjective sleep quality (p=0.008) significantly differed between the two groups. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicated that MFP presents a higher biopsychosocial burden than LM in TMD.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2016

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is one of the treatment options used for patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), although its effectiveness is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ESWT in the treatment of MPS in terms of pain relief and functional improvements. Methods: We assessed 93 patients with MPS who underwent ESWT from March 2009 to July 2014. After exclusion of 25 patients with shoulder diseases, 68 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean follow-up period was 7.5 months (${\pm}4.2weeks$), and the average duration of symptoms was 5 months (range, 2-16 months). ESWT was applied to intramuscular taut bands and referred pain areas once a week for 3 weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were obtained at an initial assessment and at the 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up assessments. Results: VAS pain scores and ASES scores improved significantly after 3 sessions of ESWT (p<0.05). Both scores were improved, although not significantly, after 6 weeks (p>0.05). Conclusions: ESWT is an effective treatment option for patients with MPS.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2021

Background: The options for stabilization appliance therapy for masticatory muscle pain include soft occlusal and hard stabilization appliances. A previous study suggested that hard stabilization appliance therapy was effective for patients with local myalgia who developed long facets on their occlusal appliances. The objective of this study was to identify patients in whom a soft occlusal appliance should be used to treat masticatory muscle pain by analyzing the type of muscle pain present and patient factors that influenced the effectiveness of this treatment. Methods: The study included 42 patients diagnosed with local myalgia or myofascial pain according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Diagnostic Decision Tree. The analysis of patient factors included variables believed to be associated with temporomandibular disorders. First, a temporary screening appliance was used for 2 weeks to assess each patient for bruxism during sleep. Soft appliance therapy was then started. For each patient, the effectiveness of the appliance was evaluated according to the intensity of tenderness during muscle palpation and the treatment satisfaction score at one month after starting treatment. Results: Data from 37 of the 42 patients were available for analysis. Twenty-five patients reported satisfaction with the appliance. In logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for reduction of facet length was 1.998. Nineteen patients showed at least a 30% improvement in the visual analog scale score. The odds ratio for local myalgia was 18.148. Conclusion: Soft appliance therapy may be used in patients with local myalgia. Moreover, patients who develop short facets on the appliance surface are likely to be satisfied with soft appliance therapy. Soft appliance therapy may be appropriate for patients with local myalgia who develop short facets on their occlusal appliance.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.203-213
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to develop a Korean medicine (KM) clinical practice guideline for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) via the collaboration of clinical and methodological experts. Methods The study will include an initial survey to establish a common understanding of MPS. To develop the clinical guideline, a multidisciplinary development group was formed. The group will finalize the clinical questions based on a preliminary draft. The GRADE methodology is going to be applied to determine the level of evidence and grading of the recommendations. Finally, approval from the relevant medical societies will be obtained. Results A protocol for developing a KM clinical guideline for MPS was presented. Before finalizing the clinical key questions, a literature search was conducted according to the protocol, and a draft of 19 clinical key questions was established. Conclusions An evidence-based KM clinical guideline for MPS is expected to contribute to the management of MPS. This may also serve as a reference for the development of other KM clinical practice guidelines in the future.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.22 no.3 s.38
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• pp.703-713
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• 1992

Researches in pathologic entities and syndromes that describe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or TMJ-related pain and dysfunction, have been hampered by confusion and conflict over the pathogenesis of myofascial and joint pain, the character and causes of joint noises, and the lack of scientific methods. Investigators have more recently correlated clinical diagnosis and arthrographic and surgical findings to demonstrate 'internal derangements' of the TMJ. It is thought that the structural and functional changes characteristic of internal derangements constitute the principal pathologic entity of the TMJ. Cephalometric data from a group of 34 subjects with documented functional changes in the TMJ were compared with those of a group of 35 subjects from a control sample. The results were as follows: 1. Comparison of a group which shows Class I relationship, there was a tendency to show clock-wise rotation of mandible and linguoversion of upper and lower anterior teeth in the experimental sample. 2. Excluding the vertical relationship, there was a tendency to show low values of the lingual surface slope of the upper central incisor and high values of the interincisor angle in the experimental sample.