Myofascial treatment increased trapezius muscle oxygenation in individuals with nonspecific neck pain

Nonspecific neck pain (NNP) is a common idiopathic disorder in the general population that affects the trapezius muscle and blood supply, thereby compromising the fascial system. A physical therapy technique called Myofascial reorganization was hypothesized to influence the dynamics of local fluids reducing excessive muscle tension and capillary constriction and increasing local blood flow. Thus a study was conducted to investigate whether MR improves peripheral muscle oxygenation.

The study recruited 50 participants (women: 36, men: 14) with and without nonspecific neck pain. They were assigned to either the treatment group (n = 25, with nonspecific neck pain, subjected to myofascial treatment) or the control group (without neck pain, no myofascial intervention).  

The results show that immediately after 10 min of myofascial treatment, the treatment group had increased the oxyhemoglobin level of the medium fibers of the trapezius. In addition, measures of functional disability  and neck pain improved on the treatment group. The pain pressure threshold measure was also improved.

The authors indicate that the application of myofascial treatment for 10 min increases the tissue oxyhemoglobin level in the trapezius muscle of the treatment group with neck pain.