Evaluating the Relationship Between Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) and Physical and Mental Health Status in Patients with Stroke

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a non-inflammatory disorder with muscle stiffness and pain that occurs with the appearance of palpable and irritating nodules in the muscular system. Stroke is one of the most common neurological diseases that in many cases leads to disability and reduction of quality of life (QOL). Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between MPS and physical and mental health (MH) status in patients with stroke. Methods: Using available sampling method, this case-control study included 260 patients with stroke. To collect data, demographic characteristics, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were used. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16. Mean and standard deviation were used for descriptive statistics and independent t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for inferential tests. Results: While the pain score was 6.35 (1.39), QOL score was 38.86 (11.69), and MH score was 16.26 (2.75) in the intervention group, these scores were 2.15 (0.96), 63.96 (17.52), and 9.02 (4.63), respectively, in the control group. The results showed no statistically significant relationship between MPS and QOL. But there was a statistically significant relationship between MPS and MH, so that the MH status of patients with MPS was lower than the MH status of other patients. Conclusions: Necessary interventions have been done to improve the health status of patients with MPS, which will lead to an increase in the health status of these patients.