Effect of Ultrasound Combined with Dry Needling on Myofascial Pain in the Upper Trapezius : a Controlled Randomised Study

INTRODUCTION. Myofacscial Pain Syndrome (MPS) Upper trapezius is a condition of tightness in the upper trapezius characterized by the appearance of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle fibers. This causes pain and decreased elastitrapezius muscle fibers, resulting in cervical motion limitations. AIM. To determine the effect of the addition of ultrasound to Dry needling intervention on reducing pain and increasing cervical range in the condition of upper trapezius MPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS. This type of research is a quasi-experiment with a randomized pre-test-post-test control group design that uses 2 sample groups, where the treatment group is given Ultrasound Therapy and Dry needling intervention, and the control group is given Dry needling intervention only. The sample obtained was 30 people according to the inclusion criteria, then randomized into 2 groups, namely 15 people in the treatment group and 15 people in the control group. Data collection was obtained through measurement of tenderness using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and measurement of Range of Motion (ROM) using a goniometer. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Based on the independent sample t-test for the VAS scale, the value of p = 0.619 (mean difference of 3.767 control 3.553 treatment), and based on the Mann-Whitney test, the value of p = 0.074 for flexion ROM (mean difference of 17.00 control 12.33 treatment), p = 0.311 for lateral flexion ROM (mean difference of 9.33 treatment 8.00 control), and p = 0.494 for rotation ROM (mean difference of 13.33 treatment 11.67 control), which means that there is no significant difference in effect between the treatment and control groups. CONCLUSION. The addition of ultrasound to the dry needling intervention resulted in an increase of 9.33 in lateral flexion and 13.33 in rotation which means this number is greater when compared to dry needling alone with an increase of 8.00 in lateral flexion and 11.67 in rotation. However, the addition of ultrasound did not result in a decrease in tenderness and a greater improvement in cervical flexion where the value of 3.767 in dry needling alone compared to the value of 3.553 in the addition of ultrasound and 17.00 12.33.