Avaliação dos efeitos da ventosaterapia sobre pontos gatilhos miofasciais de indivíduos com cervicalgia crônica: ensaio clínico randomizado

Abstract

In the current practice of Physiotherapy there are different approaches to treat myofascial trigger points, however, many of these resources do not have the proper scientific support. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of wind therapy in individuals with chronic neck pain, considering that the main causal factor of this dysfunction is the presence of trigger points in the cervical region. Twenty-four volunteers of both genders, aged 18 to 60 years, with chronic neck pain were included, and should present bilaterally active myofascial trigger points in the trapezius muscle in their descending fibers. Thus, individuals were randomized into two groups: Wind therapy (n = 13) Ischemic compression (n = 11). The volunteers underwent five physical therapy sessions, which were evaluated at three moments: before the beginning of treatment, 24 hours after the fifth session and one week after the second reevaluation. The main outcomes were pain thresholds, right and left pressure, pain intensity, cervical disability, catastrophization and skin temperature. Numerical Pain Scale (NDE), Neck Disability Index, Pain Related Self-Statement and infrared thermography. In the intragroup comparison, similar results were observed for both groups: significant reduction in pressure pain threshold, pain intensity, cervical disability and catastrophization. No groupversus- time interaction was observed for LDP right (F = 0.214, p = 0.808), LDP left (F = 0.605, p = 0.550), END (F = 2.907, p = 0.065), NDI outcomes. (F = 1.422, p = 0.252), EPCD (F = 2.471, p = 0.980), right (F = 0.734, p = 0.486) and left (F = 1.172, p = 0.319) skin temperature. In the intergroup comparison no difference was observed between the groups for the primary and secondary outcomes of the study. In view of the above, it is concluded that wind therapy has an effect similar to that of ischemic compression, being slightly superior in relieving pain intensity and thus can be safely used in physical therapy practice.