An interventional study of home-based exercises and TENS in Myofascial Pain Syndrome, sponsored by Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-18.
Sponsored by Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Cervical MPS is a condition of pain, weakness and loss of function caused by trigger points located in the tense bands in the muscles in the neck and upper back. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are used in the treatment of MPS. Although different treatment methods are used for MPS today, there is no proven treatment method to be superior to others. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of exercise therapy, kinesiology taping and TENS therapy on pain, muscle strength and functional status in patients with cervical myofascial pain syndrome.
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disease characterized by the presence of hyperirritable palpable trigger points accompanied by pain and muscle stiffness. Main signs and symptoms of MPS; pain, spasm, decrease in joint range of motion, difficulty in daily living activities and deterioration in quality of life. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are used in the treatment of MPS. Among non-pharmacological treatments, postural and mechanical modifications, exercises, stress reduction, electrotherapy methods, regional cold and hot application, local anesthetic injections, kinesiological taping, acupuncture and dry needling can be preferred. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of exercise therapy, kinesiology taping and TENS therapy on pain, muscle strength and functional status in patients with cervical myofascial pain syndrome.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients in the first group will be given trunk stabilization training, scapular adductor muscle strengthening, cervical posterior tilt, and stretching exercises for neck rotators, scalene muscles, levator scapula muscle, upper trapezius muscle, posterior cervical and suboccipital muscles. Among these exercises, it will be said that the strengthening exercises should be done in 2 sets of 30 repetitions a day, and the stretching exercises should be done in 2 sets of 10 repetitions. These exercises will be given as a home program and you will be asked to practice them every day for 4 weeks.
Other: home-based exercises
TENS is an electric current applied with superficial electrodes placed on the skin and used to relieve pain. It is also used in the treatment of cervical MAS. It can be applied together with other treatment methods. It has a pain relieving effect. The total duration of the application will be 20 minutes and 1 session will be applied every day for two weeks, a total of 10 sessions. In addition to this treatment, patients will also be given exercise therapy.
Other: home-based exercises · Device: TENS
Kinesiology taping is one of the treatment methods used in various musculoskeletal system diseases. It does not restrict daily activities. It supports the person's movement and ensures that muscle functions return to normal. Kinesiology tape is made of 100% cotton and has an elastic structure that can extend up to 30-40% of its length. The tape is water resistant and can stay on the skin for about 1 week. In this study, kinesiology taping will be applied twice a week for three weeks. In addition to this treatment, patients will also be given exercise therapy.
Other: home-based exercises · Device: kinesiology taping
Exercise therapy is one of the most commonly used conservative treatment methods in the cervical MAS treatment protocol. Patients in the first group will be given trunk stabilization training, scapular adductor muscle strengthening, cervical posterior tilt, and stretching exercises for neck rotators, scalene muscles, levator scapula muscle, upper trapezius muscle, posterior cervical and suboccipital muscles. Among these exercises, it will be said that the strengthening exercises should be done in 2 sets of 30 repetitions a day, and the stretching exercises should be done in 2 sets of 10 repetitions. These exercises will be given as a home program and you will be asked to practice them every day for 4 weeks.
TENS is an electric current applied with superficial electrodes placed on the skin and used to relieve pain. Conventional (Traditional) TENS is the most commonly used type. It affects the transmission of pain on the gate control theory by affecting the thick, myelinated, afferent A alpha and beta fibers. The effect of conventional TENS begins in 30 minutes and disappears within approximately 2 hours after treatment is stopped. TENS will be applied to the patients in the second group with a Bio-Stim brand VH-1000 model TENS device in the form of symmetrical, biphasic quadrilateral pulses for 100 msec. Frequency is 60 Hertz (Hz), intensity will be adjusted according to the patient's perception of paresthesia. The negative electrode will be placed on the active trigger point on the upper trapezius muscle and the positive electrode on the acromial tendon. The total duration of the application will be 20 minutes and 1 session will be applied every day for two weeks, a total of 10 sessions.
Kinesiology taping has a wide range of indications, especially in the musculoskeletal system. It is used to protect against tissue damage in the musculoskeletal system and to treat existing injuries, injuries, pain and dysfunctions. Patients who receive kinesiology taping treatment will receive treatment six times in total for three weeks, with 3-day intervals. After the patient is allowed to sit comfortably on the chair, taping will be performed between the acromioclavicular joint and the C7 spinous process using the upper trapezius inhibition technique. In addition, a small kinesiological taping test will be applied to the patient's volar forearm as a rapid allergy screening test to prevent any dermatological allergic reaction.
VAS (Visual Analogue Scale)
Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale. Participants rated their pain separately at rest and during activity on a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst imaginable pain." Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity and therefore a worse outcome.
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment completion
Ultrasound Elastography
The last step of the high development rate in ultrasonography technology is ultrasound elastography (UE). UE is a technological advance that can directly measure the mechanical properties of tissue, including muscle stiffness. Elasticity; It is the ability of a tissue to be deformed by an external force and to return to its previous shape and size when this force is removed.
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment completion
Range of Motion (ROM)
Cervical ROM, flexion, extension, right rotation, left rotation, right lateral flexion, left lateral flexion measurements during active movement will be measured with a goniometer device and recorded in degrees.
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment completion
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Neck Disability Index is a scale consisting of 10 questions and used to evaluate how and to what extent neck pain affects the patient's daily life activities. Scale; It includes pain severity, self-care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, driving, sleep and social activity parameters. Patients were asked to mark the one that was most suitable for them among the 6 options given for each parameter. Each topic is scored from 0 (no disability) to 5 (complete disability). The total score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 50 (total disability). After the total score is obtained, the value calculated according to the formulation is finalized as % deficiency. As the score increases, disability increases, and as the score decreases, disability decreases.
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment completion
Plan to share: No — Results of the study will be written as a manuscript. In Turkey, we do not have a system sharing data to other researchers.
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Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital