Effects of strain counter-strain and stretching techniques in active myofascial pain syndrome

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of passive stretching (STR) and strain counter-strain (SCS) techniques in subjects with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) as measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), displacement pain threshold (DPT), active range of motion (AROM), and patients perception of change (PPC). [Subjects] Twenty volunteers with active MPS in the upper trapezius muscle participated in the study. [Methods] The subjects were randomly allocated to either a STR or SCS treatment group. Evaluations were performed at before, immediately, one hour, and one day after treatment. [Results] No signiicant difference between groups were found. However, there was a signiicant improvement of VAS an hour after SCS treatment. The improvement seemed to be maintained after treatment. The STR group showed a signiicant decrease of DPT between immediately and a day after treatment, indicating less tissue compliance. [Conclusion] The SCS treatment helps relieve the pain one hour after treatment in subjects with active MPS.