Efficacy of the muscle energy technique versus the strain-counter strain technique on immediate deactivation of myofascial trigger points in upper trapezius muscle

Aims and objectives: Thisstudy aimed to check the comparative efficacy of the Muscle EnergyTechnique versus the Strain-Counter Strain technique on immediate deactivation ofmyofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. Study design: The study comprised acomparative analytical design to compare and contrast the two study interventions. Place andduration of the study: The research was conducted in the Department of Physical therapy,Allied hospital Faisalabad for 6 months. Patients and methods: Based on inclusion andexclusion criteria, 40 subjects were enrolled in the study using the convenient samplingmethod. The subjects were divided into two groups; group A (n=20) received a single sessionof baseline treatment with themuscle energy technique, while group B (n=20)received a singlesession of baseline treatment with the strain-counter strain technique. The subjects wereevaluated through the pressure-pain threshold (algometer), Numeric Pain Rating Scale, andModified Bournemouth Questionnaire as pre-intervention and post-intervention measuringtools for pain and functional status. Results: The data was analyzed using SPSS version 17.Within group analysis showed a significant difference between pre- values and post values ofpressure-pain threshold, Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Modified BournemouthQuestionnaire in both groups (P<0.05). Between group analysis was done using independentsample t test. It also showed significant difference (P<0.05) in post mean values between thetwo group subjects in all three outcomes. The post-mean values for the strain-counter straingroup were slightly more improved than the Muscle Energy Technique group. Conclusion:The strain-counter strain technique is found more effective than the Muscle Energy Techniquefor immediate deactivation of myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle