Effectiveness of court-type traditional Thai massage plus meditation in patients with myofascial pain syndrome on upper trapezius

Introduction

Court-type traditional Thai massage (CTTM) is one of the most common treatments for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in Thailand. Although discussed in numerous studies, the effect of CTTM with or without meditation among patients with MPS on the upper trapezius is still unknown.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of CTTM combined with meditation on pain and substance p (SP) levels in patients with MPS on the upper trapezius.

Methods

The participants in this randomized controlled trial study were outpatients at the Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand, who have been suffering from MPS for more than 6 months and have at least one trigger point in the trapezius muscles diagnosed by orthopedic specialist. A total of 64 participants, were equally divided into two groups, and each group received CTTM with or without meditation. The visual analog scale (VAS) and SP level were recorded before and immediately after the treatment period.

Results

The VAS pain score was significantly different in both the CTTM plus meditation and the CTTM only groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the CTTM with meditation group, showed a significant decrease in the SP levels after the first day of treatment (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline and week 4 (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Both CTTM with or without meditation significantly relieved pain in the MPS patients, and the CTTM with meditation group experienced a greater reduction in SP levels within the first week of treatment. This result suggests that CTTM with or without meditation may offer benefit for treating MPS patients.