Treatment of myofascial trigger points of the infraspinatus is effective in relieving shoulder pain and improving shoulder functions: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background This study aimed to investigate the effects of ischemic compression treatment (ICT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) applied on the trigger points of the infraspinatus muscle on shoulder pain and function in patients with shoulder pain.

Methods Thirty patients with shoulder pain were randomly categorized into the ICT group (n = 15) and LLLT groups (n = 15). ICT was performed on three myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) of the infraspinatus muscle twice a week for 4 weeks (eight sessions), with 5 minutes of treatment per trigger point. LLLT was performed similarly. Shoulder pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and pain pressure threshold (PPT), and shoulder function was assessed using the Korean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, rotator cuff strength, and range of motion (ROM) of shoulder flexion and abduction.

Results Significant changes in VAS score and PPT were found after the intervention in both groups (p < 0.05). Significant changes were observed in the Korean DASH score, rotator cuff strength, and ROM of shoulder flexion (p < 0.05) but not in the ROM of shoulder abduction (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups.

Conclusion This study showed that both ICT and LLLT applied on the MTrPs of the infraspinatus muscle were effective for relieving shoulder pain and improving shoulder functions in patients with shoulder pain.

1. Background

As one of the muscles of the rotator cuff, the main function of the infraspinatus muscle is to externally rotate the glenohumoral joint and provide stability (1). This muscle is easily influenced by movement involving the hands. Sporrong et al. (1998) reported that the infraspinatus muscle shows higher muscle activity than other shoulder muscles during manual work (2), and Jarvholm et al. (1989) reported that excessive use of the hand increases intramuscular pressure in the shoulders, leading to clear changes in infraspinatus muscle activity (3, 4). In addition, Birch et al. (2000) stated that computer work requiring concentration also impacts the infraspinatus muscle (5).

Infraspinatus tendon injury is common and, when coupled with subscapularis tendon injury, it may disturb the balance of anteroposterior strength of the shoulder joint (6). An imbalance of strength alters the position of the humeral head (7, 8) and may induce secondary articular injuries, such as articular cartilage degeneration, rotator cuff tear, and injury of the long head of biceps (9). Although these studies were unable to confirm the exact mechanism, they found an association between the infraspinatus muscle and shoulder pain.

Muscle pain seems to be related to myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) (10). MTrPs refer to a taut band formed in a stiff muscle that induces myofascial pain, and are known to be a common cause of musculoskeletal pain(11). The exact pathophysiology of MTrPs is as yet unclear, but the possibility of local metabolic disturbance caused by abnormal electrical activity known as endplate noise, altered muscle activities, and blood circulation disturbance has been proposed (12).

Various treatments are applied for MTrPs, as the exact etiology and healing mechanism are currently unknown (13). Of these, ischemic compression is the most common treatment for MTrPs. This treatment mitigates pain and radiating pain, improves limited range of motion (ROM), and facilitates recovery of muscle functions (14). In addition, recent studies have applied low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to MTrPs (15). LLLT, such as He-Ne laser and infrared laser, do not injure tissues and are utilized to treat pain of various causes.

Although relevant studies are still lacking, treatment of MTrPs is expected to be helpful for patients with shoulder pain (16–18). In particular, treatment of MTrPs of the infraspinatus muscle is expected to have clinical efficacy for shoulder pain. Simons (1999) and Skootsky (1989) reported that MTrPs frequently occur in the infraspinatus and upper trapezius and that the infraspinatus is particularly associated with myofascial pain related to the shoulder joint (19, 20) Furthermore, Hains et al. (2010) also reported that removing MTrPs in the shoulder could facilitate recovery of shoulder function and relieve pain (21).

From the above, treating MTrPs of the infraspinatus is expected to be clinically effective in treating shoulder pain. However, most previous studies treated MTrPs of muscles related to shoulder pain instead of applying treatment based on an accurate diagnosis, so may have unintentionally affected irrelevant MTrPs (10). Further, studies comparing ischemic compression and LLLT, which are effective on MTrPs, are also scarce.

Therefore, this study aims to apply treatment specifically targeting MTrPs of the infraspinatus, without affecting MTrPs of other muscles as much as possible and identify the effects on shoulder pain and function. Moreover, we aim to propose an efficient treatment method for the shoulder by comparing the effects of ischemic compression treatment (ICT) and LLLT.

2. Method

3. Outcome Measure

Shoulder pain was measured using VAS and PPT. Shoulder functions were measured based on ROM, K-DASH, and rotator cuff strength.

4. Analysis

All work and statistical analyses in the present study were performed using SPSS ver. 21.0. The kolmogorove-Smirnov test was performed for the study population to test for normality assumption and all variables were normally distributed. Intergroup differences were analyzed with independent t-tests. Differences after treatment were analyzed with paired t-tests. For withdrawn participants, intention to treat(ITT) was measured using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method, where the values observed immediately prior to withdrawal were used as the final values. Statistical significance was set at 0.05 for all data.

5. Results

6. Discussion

Although there are only a few reliable tests for shoulder pain, it is determined in association with the subacromial bursa, rotator cuff tendon, and tendon of the long head of biceps muscle, which are the anatomical structures of the subacromial space (28–30). This assumption does not take into account the fact that muscle tissue may induce pain in the shoulder area (31).

A recent study on the referral of muscle pain is based on the fact that the synaptic connection of central dorsal horn neurons may be altered as a result of nociceptive input (Mense, Simons, Hoheisel, & Quenzer, 2003).

Dorsal horn neurons have an effective and ineffective synaptic connection including afferent neurons. An effective synapse accepts information regarding trigger points and forms an existing receptive field. Local pain is moderated through this pathway. An ineffective synapse fires an insufficient potential to induce a response in the dorsal horn neuron. However, when an ineffective synapse is placed in a pathological environment, neurons stimulated by nociceptive input create a new receptive field and it is converted into an effective synapse, a process known as central sensitization. When a new receptive field emerges, non-nociceptive input in a location other than the existing location of pain can be felt as pain (32).

Trigger points of the rotator cuff may provoke local referral pain deep in the shoulder joints. As a result, shoulder pain caused by trigger points may be misunderstood as subarcomial buritis or tendinitis, and consequent inflammation-related treatment may diminish the efficacy of treatment (22). Therefore, direct treatment of MTrPs of the infraspinatus muscle can be an alternative for shoulder pain.

The ICT applied in this study reduced VAS by 49.36% and improved PPT by 8.07%. LLLT reduced VAS for shoulder pain by 38.80% and improved PPT by 6.42%. These results suggest that both treatments alleviate shoulder pain.

Carel Bron et al. (2011) applied manual pressure, passive muscle stretching, and cold application during stretching on trigger points of shoulder muscles (22). The results showed that VAS and K-DASH scores were significantly improved, and the number of active trigger points decreased. Carrasco (2009) reported that LLLT on trigger points of the masseter and temporalis was effective in reducing temporomandibular joint pain (33). Although the type of treatment used and muscle involved differed between our study and previous studies, one similarity is that the studies aimed to identify pain by treating trigger points.

Although the exact mechanism underlying the pain-reducing effects observed in this study is yet unclear, it can be understood through various hypotheses. A recent study reported that pain mechanism is related to glial cells. Microglia and astrocytes have been reported to be activated by peripheral pathological changes, including inflammation (34). Data on whether trigger points generally impact glial cells are scarce. However, because pain receptors activate glial cells, pain receptors in trigger points may have an impact on glial cells (35). During an ICT, compression induces a momentary ischemic state in the trigger points and once the compression is removed, reactive hyperemia occurs, in which increased blood flow to the muscle fibers facilitates circulation (36). LLLT controls microcirculation and increases oxygen supply to the trigger points, thereby normalizing the metabolic rate of tissues (37). The enhanced blood circulation as a result of these treatments is speculated to impact the pain receptors in the trigger points by reducing inflammation in the body and thus affecting glial cells.

In the present study, we assessed shoulder ROM (flexion, abduction), K-DASH, and rotator cuff strength to evaluate shoulder function. ICT increased the range of shoulder flexion by 1.34% and shoulder abduction by 0.98%, decreased K-DASH score by 28.23%, and improved rotator cuff strength by 4.39%. LLLT increased the range of shoulder flexion by 1.26% and shoulder abduction by 0.65%, decreased K-DASH score by 19.05%, and improved rotator cuff strength by 4.71%. These results show that all shoulder functions, with the exception of range of abduction, were improved. However, both ICT and LLLT seem to have clinical effects on the range of shoulder abduction, though the effect sizes are small, at 0.31 for ICT and 0.27 for LLLT.

Hains et al. (2010) applied sham compression and ICT on trigger points of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid, and biceps brachii muscles, which led to significant improvements in shoulder pain and dysfunction index (SPADI) (21). Chow et al. (2006) applied LLLT on trigger points around the neck in patients with chronic neck pain and reported that there were therapeutic effects, with significant changes in the Neck Pain and Disability Scale (NPAD) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) (38). The present study also confirmed improvements in shoulder functions after MTrP treatment, but our study differs in that shoulder function was assessed after treatment of MTrPs in a single muscle.

Subacromial pain reduces voluntary activity of the infraspinatus muscle and external rotation of the shoulder joint. Inhibition of the infraspinatus muscle by subacromial pain may lead to abnormal Gh joint motion and translation (39). As a result, normal muscle activation patterns may be affected, which may result in muscle weakening and motor disabilities (40) as well as reduced ROM. Lucas et al. (2010) reported that passive stretching and dry needling to reduce MTrPs led to normalized motor activation pattern within 20–30 minutes (41).

In the present study, treatment of MTrPs of the infraspinatus muscle is believed to have improved external rotation and normalized shoulder joint movement. In the long term, normal motor activation patterns appeared, which seems to have increased rotator cuff strength. However, these speculations are based on previous findings, so additional studies are needed to establish a theoretical mechanism.

Because there were no differences between the two groups in our study, we compared their effect sizes as well. ICT had greater effect sizes than those of LLLT, with the exception of effect sizes for VAS and rotator cuff strength. This suggests that both treatments were helpful for mitigating pain and improving shoulder function in patients with shoulder pain. Therefore, selective treatment of MTrPs of the infraspinatus muscle is effective, and ICT and LLLT could be clinically effective when used appropriately according to patient characteristics.

This study has a few limitations. First, the sample size was not sufficient to generalize the study findings. Second, the infraspinatus muscle is not the only muscle that can provoke shoulder pain and limit shoulder functions. Third, we examined the ROM of shoulder movements that are frequently used in daily life (flexion, abduction), so we could not determine external rotation, the major function of the infraspinatus muscle. Finally, due to a lack of a control group, we could not examine changes in the variables over time. Subsequent studies should address these limitations for further comparisons.

7. Conclusion

This study showed that ICT and LLLT were both effective on MTrPs of the infraspinatus muscle in patients with shoulder pain but could not discriminate which of the two treatments is more effective. With more diverse studies on the trigger points related to shoulder pain in the future, these treatments could be proposed as effective clinical treatments for patients with shoulder pain.

8. Declarations

Abbreviations

CI: confidence interval; ICT: ischemic compression treatment; ITT: intention to treat; K-DASH: Korea version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand; LLLT: low-level laser therapy; LOCF: last observation carried forward; MTrPs : myofascial trigger points; PPT: pressure-pain threshold; ROM: range of motion; SD: standard deviation(SD); VAS: Visual Analogue Scale

Acknowledgments

None

Authors’ contributions

This study was designed, directed, and coordinated by LSW. And PSG and CJC as the principal investigator, provided conceptual and technical guidance for all aspects of the project.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Availability of data and materials

The data sets that will be used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Bioethics committee of Sahmyook University(IRB number: 2-1040781-AB-N-01-2017063HR/ June 22, 2017). Written informed consent is obtained from all study participants prior to randomization.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests

Abbreviations

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Tables

Table 1. Participants’ general characteristics