Innovative diagnostic investigations and treatment of trigger points in the shoulder girdle.
Myofascial trigger points are palpable areas of muscular hardening, usually in the neck or between the shoulder blades, which may be associated with considerable impairment of the quality of life.
Summary: Thermal imaging (thermography) readily demonstrates trigger points – especially in the region of the cervical spine – with associated muscle weakness, restricted mobility and chronified pain syndrome. The application of cryotherapy is recommended for confirmed trigger points (neuroreflex cryotherapy) followed by taping. Furthermore, EMG testing (with concomitant biofeedback training) can be used for further diagnostics/treatment or used to evaluate the outcome of cryotherapy. Our EMG tests showed a marked reduction of muscular tension after cryotherapy indicating in summary that this technique, which is simple to apply, is a fast-acting form of treatment and is virtually free of side effects.