Efeitos da eletroestimulação pontual por microcorrente em indivíduos com a síndrome da dor miofascial crônica no músculo trapézio superior

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is one of the leading causes of morbidity in modern society. A common diagnosis in people with musculoskeletal pain is Myofascial Pain Syndrome (SDM), which compromises physical functionality and quality of life. For this reason, the search for therapeutic alternatives that treat these dysfunctions becomes crucial. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microcurrent neuromuscular electrical stimulation (MENS) on upper trapezius muscle in individuals with chronic MPS, on physical and functional parameters. It is a randomized, double blind trial. The final sample consisted of 49 women, aged between 18 and 50 years. Through randomization, participants were allocated into two groups: Placebo (n = 24) and Treated (n = 25). Both groups received three sessions of MENS, but in the placebo group there was no activation of the treatment device. All participants were evaluated in three moments: initially (AV1), immediately after the third session of the MENS (AV2) and seven days after the second assessment (AV3) through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of the Questionnaire Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and hand (DASH), Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36), infrared thermography, pressure algometer and surface electromyography. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the Mann-Whitney tests, and Friedman followed by Wilcoxon paired when necessary, at a significance level of 5%. This study was approved by the research ethics committee of UNIFAL-MG (CAAE: 56133716.4.0000.5142). The results showed that there was reduction in pain intensity for the placebo groups and treated between the initial, final and follow up evaluations. Inability of the upper limb reduced over time in both groups between initial, final and follow up assessments. In the quality of life there was an increase in the dimension "limitation by physical aspects" in the treated group between the initial and final evaluation; The "pain" and "vitality" dimensions increased between the initial, final and follow up evaluations in the placebo and treated groups; In the "general health" dimension, there was an increase between the initial evaluation and follow up in the treated group; The "social aspects" dimension, the treated group showed an increase only between the initial and final evaluation in the treated group; The other dimensions did not show differences over time. Regarding the variables "maximum, minimum and mean temperature", the treated group showed an increase between the initial and final evaluation. The "minimum temperature" dimension also showed a reduction in the treated group between the final evaluation and the follow up evaluation. In the evaluation of the nociceptive threshold, the treated group presented a reduction between the initial and final evaluation. The electromyographic activity showed no difference. There were no differences in intergroup analysis. Therefore, MENS was effective in reducing pain intensity, upper limb disability and improving quality of life in individuals with MPS over time in the placebo and treated groups, but only promoted improved tissue temperature in the treated group over time.