Comparative study of the immediate therapeutic effects between modified active release technique and traditional Thai massage on pain alteration in patient with scapulocostal syndrome

Abstract

Background: Scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) is a common clinical disorder, which consisted of major signs and symptoms including chronic pain of scapular region and myofascial trigger point around scapular muscles. One of common treatment for SCS is manual therapy, such as modified active release technique (mART) and traditional Thai massage (TTM). Both techniques were shown similar therapeutic effects on pain reduction and increased cervical and shoulder range of motion, however, comparison of efficacy is needed for proving. Objectives: To compare the immediate therapeutic effects between modified active release technique (mART) and traditional Thai massage (TTM) on pain alteration in patients with scapulocostal syndrome. Materials and methods: Seventy patients with scapulocostal syndrome (16 males, 54 females) were recruited. They were divided into two groups by stratified block random allocation including mART group and TTM group. Treatments of mART or TTM were performed 30 minutes. Pain intensity and pressure pain threshold were investigated before and immediately after treatment. Paired samples t-test was used to determine significant difference within group, while ANCOVA was used to evaluate significant difference between groups, and using a pre-test as a covariate variable. Results: Comparative results within group, pain intensity was decreased significantly in both groups (p0.05). Conclusion: mART can improve pain intensity and pressure pain threshold similar to TTM in patients with scapulocostal syndrome.

Keywords

• Scapulocostal syndrome
• modified active release technique
• traditional Thai massage