Efectos de la diatermia y la punción seca en los puntos gatillo miofasciales del gastrocnemio medial en jugadores de baloncesto profesional. Variaciones en el rango de movimiento, temperatura, hiperalgesia y baropodometría

Introducción. El síndrome del dolor miofasciales (SDM) es un cuadro clínico caracterizado por el dolor local musculoesquelético provocado por puntos gatillos miofasciales. La Diatermia es una terapia electro térmica no invasiva clasificada como termoterapia profunda, se caracteriza por su rápida velocidad de acción siendo utilizada por deportistas de alto rendimiento. La punción seca (PS) se considera un método seguro y eficaz para disminuir el SDM y mejorar su funcionalidad, al provocar una respuesta de contracción local. Material y métodos. Se evaluó los efectos generan la PS, diatermia y grupo CONTROL a nivel musculoesquelético en 52 participantes, jugadores de Baloncesto profesional en tres grupos de intervención. Los respectivos grupos fueron: Grupo intervención diatermia; grupo intervención punción seca y grupo control, tras la aplicación se evaluó los efectos de la técnica Lunge test (LT), termografía infrarroja (TI), algometría y baropodometría. Resultados. Tras el procedimiento se identificó un incremento de la temperatura absoluta en el grupo diatermia comparado con el grupo control y punción seca. No se identificaron diferencias entre grupo diatermia y grupo control en el parámetro del LT, pero si cambios respectivamente semejantes de grupo punción seca y diatermia. Respecto a la EVA a través de la algometría, se produjeron diferencias en el grupo diatermia. Conclusiones. La diatermia induce a cambios en la temperatura absoluta en el GM respecto al grupo PS y CONTROL. En el resto de variables no se obtienen diferencias a corto plazo. En futuras investigaciones valorar si esta técnica produce cambios en pacientes a largo plazo.Introduction. Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a clinical condition characterized by musculoskeletal pain caused by myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Diathermy is a form of noninvasive electro-thermal therapy classified as deep thermotherapy, it is characterized by immediate effects, and its being used by high performance athletes. Dry needling (DS) is considered a safe and effective method to reduce MPS and improve its functionality, by eliciting a local contraction response. Methods. To analyze the effects produced by dry needling and diathermy produces on latent trigger points in the Medial Gastrocnemius (MG), observe what alterations occur on ROM, temperature, VAS and on plantar pressures in professional basketball players. The effects generated by the PS, diathermy and CONTROL group at the musculoskeletal level were evaluated in 52 participants, professional basketball players in three interventions groups. The respective groups were: Diathermy intervention group; dry needling intervention group and CONTROL group, after application the effects of the Lunge test (LT), infrared thermography (IT), pressure threshold and baropodometry were evaluated. Results. After the intervention, an increase in absolute temperature was identified in the Diathermy Group compared to the dry needling and CONTROL group. There were no differences between the Diathermy and CONTROL in the Lunge Test, but respectively similar changes in dry needling and diathermy group. Regarding VAS through the algometry there were differences in the diathermy group. Conclusions. Diathermy can induce changes in the absolute temperature of the MG. In the rest of the variables, no short-term differences are obtained. In future research, assess whether this technique produces long-term changes in patients.Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del DeporteCiencias de la Salu

Electromyographic Activity Evolution of Local Twitch Responses During Dry Needling of Latent Trigger Points in the Gastrocnemius Muscle: A Cross-Sectional Study

Trigger points (TrPs) are hypersensitive spots within taut bands of skeletal muscles that elicit referred pain and motor changes. Among the variety of techniques used for treating TrPs, dry needling is one of the most commonly applied interventions. The question of eliciting local twitch responses (LTRs) during TrP dry needling is unclear. Our main aim was to investigate the evolution of the electromyographic (EMG) peak activity of each LTR elicited during dry needling into latent TrPs of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle. Methods. Twenty asymptomatic subjects with latent TrPs in the gastrocnemius medialis muscle participated in this cross-sectional study. Changes in EMG signal amplitude (root mean square [RMS]) with superficial EMG were assessed five minutes before, during, and five minutes after dry needling. The peak RMS score of each LTR was calculated (every 0.5 sec). Results. Analysis of variance revealed a significant effect (F ¼ 29.069, P <0.001) showing a significant decrease of RMS peak amplitude after each subsequent LTR. Differences were significant (P <0.001) during the first three LTRs, and stable until the end of the procedure. No changes (P ¼0.958) were found for mean RMS data at rest before (mean ¼ 65.2 mv, 95% confidence interval [CI] ¼ 47.3–83.1) and after (61.0 mv, 95% CI ¼ 42.3–79.7) dry needling. Conclusions. We found that, in a series of LTRs elicited during the application of dry needling over latent TrPs in the medial gastrocnemius muscle, the RMS peak amplitude of each subsequent LTR decreased as compared with the initial RMS peak amplitude of previous LTRs. No changes in superficial EMG activity at rest were observed after dry needling of latent TrPs of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle.Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deport

Acute Effects of Tecar Therapy on Skin Temperature, Ankle Mobility and Hyperalgesia in Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Professional Basketball Players: A Pilot Study

(1) Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a clinical condition characterized by localized non-inflammatory musculoskeletal pain caused by myofascial trigger points. Diathermy or Tecar therapy (TT) is a form of noninvasive electro-thermal therapy classified as deep thermotherapy based on the application of electric currents. This technique is characterized by immediate effects, and its being used by high performance athletes. (2) Methods: A total of thirty-two participants were included in the study who were professional basketball players. There was a 15-person Control Group and a 17-person Intervention Group. TT was applied in the Intervention Group, while TT with the device switched off (SHAM) was applied in the Control Group. The effects were evaluated through the Lunge test, infrared thermography, and pressure threshold algometry at baseline, 15, and 30 min after the intervention. (3) Results: the Intervention Group exhibited a greater increase in absolute temperature (F[1,62] = 4.60, p = 0.040, η2p = 0.13) compared to the Control Group. There were no differences between the groups in the Lunge Test (F[1.68,53.64] = 2.91, p = 0.072, η2p = 0.08) or in pressure algometry (visual analog scale, VAS) (F[3.90] = 0.73, p = 0.539, η2p = 0.02). No significant short-term significant differences were found in the rest of the variables. (4) Conclusions: Diathermy can induce changes in the absolute temperature of the medial gastrocnemius muscle

Acute Effects of Tecar Therapy on Skin Temperature, Ankle Mobility and Hyperalgesia in Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Professional Basketball Players: A Pilot Study

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a clinical condition characterized by localized non-inflammatory musculoskeletal pain caused by myofascial trigger points. Diathermy or Tecar therapy (TT) is a form of noninvasive electro-thermal therapy classified as deep thermotherapy based on the application of electric currents. This technique is characterized by immediate effects, and its being used by high performance athletes. Methods: A total of thirty-two participants were included in the study who were professional basketball players. There was a 15-person Control Group and a 17-person Intervention Group. TT was applied in the Intervention Group, while TT with the device switched off (SHAM) was applied in the Control Group. The effects were evaluated through the Lunge test, infrared thermography, and pressure threshold algometry at baseline, 15, and 30 min after the intervention. Results: the Intervention Group exhibited a greater increase in absolute temperature (F[1,62] = 4.60, p = 0.040, η2p = 0.13) compared to the Control Group. There were no differences between the groups in the Lunge Test (F[1.68,53.64] = 2.91, p = 0.072, η2p = 0.08) or in pressure algometry (visual analog scale, VAS) (F[3.90] = 0.73, p = 0.539, η2p = 0.02). No significant short-term significant differences were found in the rest of the variables. (4) Conclusions: Diathermy can induce changes in the absolute temperature of the medial gastrocnemius muscle.Medicin