Clinical effectiveness of multi-wavelength photobiomodulation therapy as an adjunct to extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the management of plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial.

The goal of our study was to investigate the cumulative effect of combining medium-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), as well as to compare between their relative effectiveness in the management of plantar fasciitis (PF). One hundred twenty participants with chronic PF, more than 6 months with failure to respond to conservative treatment, were randomly assigned into four equal groups. Participants received either ESWT with PBMT, ESWT (once a week), PBMT (three times a week), or sham-PBMT (three times a week) for three consecutive weeks.

Low-frequency high-intensity versus medium-frequency low-intensity combined therapy in the management of active myofascial trigger points: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Electrotherapeutic modalities have proven to be one of the best therapeutic options for myofascial pain syndrome, targeting the myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Combined therapy (CT) is described with paucity in literature as the application of ultrasound (US) and electrical stimulating current concurrently and at the same site.

Aim: The aim was to compare between low-frequency, high-intensity burst transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation CT (burst-TENS-CT) and medium-frequency, low-intensity amplitude modulated frequency CT (AMF-CT) on upper trapezius active MTrPs (A-MTrPs).

Immediate Effects of Simultaneous Application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Ultrasound Phonophoresis on Active Myofascial Trigger Points: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of phonophoresis with combined therapy on active myofascial trigger points.

Participants: One hundred participants with acute mechanical neck pain and at least one active myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius were randomly assigned into four equal groups.

Intervention: Groups consisted of diclofenac phonophoresis with combined therapy, diclofenac phonophoresis, ultrasound (US) with coupling gel, and sham US and applied for 10 mins over myofascial trigger points.

A comparison between different modes of real-time sonoelastography in visualizing myofascial trigger points in low back muscles.

Objective: Currently, there is a lack of objective means to quantify myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and their core features. Our research compares (1) MTrPs and surrounding myofascial tissue using two-dimensional grayscale ultrasound (2DGSUS) and vibration sonoelastography (VSE); (2) the accuracy of both modes in visualizing MTrPs; (3) 'active' and 'latent' MTrPs, using VSE; and (4) the accuracy of both modes in visualizing deep and superficially located MTrPs.

Methods: Fifty participants with more than two MTrPs in their quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, piriformis, and gluteus medius muscles were assigned to an active MTrP (low back pain) group or a latent (currently pain free) MTrP group.