The effect of movement therapy on pain and range of motion in middle age women with upper trapezius trigger points

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the movement therapy in combination with massage on pain and range of motion in the neck in middle-aged women with upper trapezius muscle trigger points.
Methods: Thirty middle-aged woman with pain caused by trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle were recruited and divided to two experimental and control groups, randomly. Movement therapy exercises performed for four weeks, and before and after each session, pain and range of motion was measured and recorded in the neck. Dependent and independent t-test were used to analysis differences within each group and between two groups.
Results: The results showed that performing movement therapy on patients with pain caused by trigger points leads significant pain decrease in these patients, also leads significant increase in range of motion during flexion of the neck, neck extension, lateral flexion and rotation of the neck.
Conclusion: The combination of massage and movement therapy cause a significant decrease in pain and increase in range of motion of the neck in people with upper trapezius muscle trigger points, respectively.