Quantitative Ultrasound Texture Feature Changes With Conservative Treatment of the Trapezius Muscle in Female Patients With Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Objective: We set out to assess whether quantitative ultrasound could be used to assess changes that occur after physical therapy in patients experiencing myofascial pain syndrome. Methods: We consecutively recruited female subjects experiencing myofascial pain syndrome of the neck and shoulder region and provided 10 sessions of conservative physical therapy. A control group was recruited for textural analyses. We measured change in pain ratings, range of motion, and ultrasound texture features before and after the intervention and after 3 mos. Results: We recruited 63 female myofascial pain syndrome subjects and 20 healthy controls. After treatment, the mean blob size (an ultrasound texture feature) value for each subject decreased from 30.84 +/- 5.00 to 25.86 +/- 5.67 on the right and decreased from 31.70 +/- 5.51 to 28.08 +/- 5.53 on the left (P < 0.0005). The blob count showed a significant increase only on the left side (P < 0.01). Corresponding to this were reductions in pain and disability scores after treatment and at 3 mos compared with retreatment (P < 0.0005 for all checkpoints). Cervical range of motion values were significantly increased only at 3 mos compared with pretreatment except for mean flexion range of motion. Conclusions: Ultrasound texture feature of blob size and count changes correspond to routine clinical outcomes after conservative physical therapy of myofascial pain syndrome in female individuals.

Automated summary

The study assessed the feasibility of using ultrasound texture features to evaluate changes after physical therapy in patients with myofascial pain syndrome. Results showed that changes in ultrasound blob size and count were related to reductions in pain and disability scores in female participants.