The effect of positional release technique on upper trapezius myofascial trigger points: A case series

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Positional Release Therapy (PRT) for treating Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in the upper trapezius muscle on outcomes of pain, Range of Motion (ROM) and disability. Methods: Twenty-one patients of mean age 29±12.48 years were screened for inclusion/exclusion criteria. The PRT was administered three times a week for 4 weeks. The verbal Numerical Pain Rating scale (NPRS), active cervical contralateral flexion (ACLF) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were recorded at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks. Descriptive statistics in the form of mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Results and Conclusion: Increase in ROM and alleviated levels of pain and disability were noted in all participants post treatment. This case series suggests that a short-term manual therapy technique, such as the PRT would be beneficial in treating individuals with upper trapezius TrPs.