Evolution of the methodological quality of controlled clinical trials for myofascial trigger point treatments for the period 1978-2015: A systematic review

Rahel Stoop; Ron Clijsen; Diego Leoni; Emiliano Soldini; Greta Castellini; Valentina Redaelli; Marco Barbero

doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2017.04.009

Evolution of the methodological quality of controlled clinical trials for myofascial trigger point treatments for the period 1978-2015: A systematic review

Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2017 Aug:30:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.04.009. Epub 2017 Apr 18.

Authors

Rahel Stoop¹, Ron Clijsen², Diego Leoni³, Emiliano Soldini³, Greta Castellini⁴, Valentina Redaelli⁵, Marco Barbero³

Affiliations

¹ Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Landquart, Manno, Switzerland. Electronic address: rahel.stoop@supsi.ch.
² Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Landquart, Manno, Switzerland; University College Physiotherapy "Thim van der Laan", Landquart, Switzerland; Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
³ Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Landquart, Manno, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, I.R.C.C.S. Orthopedic Institute Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
⁵ Neurorehabilitative Department of Casa di Cura Privata Del Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

PMID: 28448859
DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.04.009

Abstract

Background: The methodological quality of controlled clinical trials (CCTs) of physiotherapeutic treatment modalities for myofascial trigger points (MTrP) has not been investigated yet.

Objectives: To detect the methodological quality of CCTs for physiotherapy treatments of MTrPs and demonstrating the possible increase over time.

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in two databases, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Medicine Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System online (MEDLINE), using the same keywords and selection procedure corresponding to pre-defined inclusion criteria. The methodological quality, assessed by the 11-item PEDro scale, served as outcome measure. The CCTs had to compare at least two interventions, where one intervention had to lay within the scope of physiotherapy. Participants had to be diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome or trigger points (active or latent).

Results: A total of n = 230 studies was analysed. The cervico-thoracic region was the most frequently treated body part (n = 143). Electrophysical agent applications was the most frequent intervention. The average methodological quality reached 5.5 on the PEDro scale. A total of n = 6 studies scored the value of 9. The average PEDro score increased by 0.7 points per decade between 1978 and 2015.

Conclusions: The average PEDro score of CCTs for MTrP treatments does not reach the cut-off of 6 proposed for moderate to high methodological quality. Nevertheless, a promising trend towards an increase of the average methodological quality of CCTs for MTrPs was recorded. More high-quality CCT studies with thorough research procedures are recommended to enhance methodological quality.

Keywords: Methodological quality; Myofascial pain; Myofascial pain syndrome; Myofascial trigger points; Trigger points.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Clinical Trials as Topic / standards*
Electrophysiological Phenomena / physiology*
Forecasting
Humans
Myofascial Pain Syndromes / diagnosis*
Myofascial Pain Syndromes / therapy*
Physical Therapy Modalities / trends*
Trigger Points / physiology*