Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effect of intramuscular electrical stimulation (IMES) and compared it with that of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and dry needling in the patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS).

Method: Forty five patients with MPS was assigned randomly to TENS group (n=15), dry needling group (n=15) and IMES group (n=15). In TENS group, TENS was applied to the trigger point. In dry needling group, dry needling was applied to the trigger point. In IMES group, IMES was applied to the trigger point. Duration of treatment was 2 weeks. Effects were assessed before treatment, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days and 14 days after treatment by visual analogue scale (VAS) and McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ). Thermography was performed before treatment, 7 days and 14 days after treatment.

Results: Significant change of VAS improvement ratio was noticed in IMES group from the 1 day after treatment compared with other groups. Significant change of MPQ improvement ratio was noticed in IMES group from the 3 days after treatment compared with other groups. The skin temperature difference was significantly improved in IMES group at 14 days after treatment.

Conclusion: These results showed that IMES is effective treatment method for pain control in patients with MPS. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 562-566)

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic value of digital infrared thermographic imaging(DITI) and to compare the therapeutic effects of lidocaine injection(LI) and dry needling(DN) in the treatment of myofacial pain syndrome(MPS) by using the DITI and visual analogue scale(VAS).

Method: After 20 minutes adaptation time, 41 patients with MPS and 15 controls undertook DITI. LI and DN were randomly given in the trigger points of the patient group and to either side of the upper trapezius muscle in the controls. The effects of treatment were immediately assessed by measuring the temperature difference(ΔT) of the involved area and the corresponding area on the opposite side of the body using the DITI and VAS. Follow up assessments of VAS, change of VAS, ΔT and change of ΔT were performed 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after the treatment, respectively.

Result: 1) The sensitivity and specificity of hot spots for TrP were 78.1% and 73.3 %, respectively. 2) ΔT and VAS continuously declined for 7 days after the treatment as compared to before the treatment in groups Ia (n= 16, ΔT＞0.6℃, LI) and Ib (n=16, ΔT＞0.6℃, DN). 3) ΔT and VAS ware not statistically different for groups Ia and Ib. 4) There was no statistically significant correlation between ΔT and VAS in both groups I and Ib.

Conclusion: These data suggest that DITI can be used as one of the valuable tools for the evaluation of trigger points. No significant difference noted in the therapeutic effects of LI and DN for MPS.