• Tapas kumar Pal
• Soumyadeep Roy
• Tanusree Basak
• Anwesh Pradhan
• Shabnam Agarwal

Background: Myofascial pain is one of the most common examples of musculoskeletal pain arising from myofascial trigger point (MTrP). MTrP is very frequent in trapezius muscle. Common causes of upper trapezius MTrP are prolong uncomfortable position of upper limb and neck, carrying heavy loads and physical demanding work. Upper trapezius MTrPs are also the causative factor of chronic tension type headache, mechanical neck pain and shoulder pain. Stress and anxiety are the predisposing factors for the MTrP formation. TENS is a method of electrical stimulation which primarily aims to provide a degree of symptomatic pain relief by exciting sensory nerves and thereby stimulating either the pain gate mechanism and/or the opioid system. Objectives: To find the the duration of Burst TENS to dissolve the upper trapezius myofascial trigger points. Study design: Pilot experimental study. Outcome measures: The outcome measures include Pain pressure algomter and Universal Goniometer. Materials and Methods: - Participants (n=10) of both age group with myofascial trigger point present over the bilateral upper trapezius muscle, between the ages of 18 to 30 years were included in this study. Patients were treated with burst type TENS. Statistical analysis: The pre and post data was analyzed using student t-test. Result: The Pain Pressure threshold (PPT) and Range of motion (ROM) was measured before the treatment, after completion of 5 days treatment and with a 15 days of follow up. The data collected was analysed using student t test. Which shows significant improvement in PPT (p<0.05) . The ROM of neck lateral flexion of right and left side was measured before and after the course of treatment. Student t test shows significant increase in the ROM on both right and left side neck lateral flexion . 15 Days follow up done where 9 out of 10 patients turned in and 1 patient dropped out. The PPT values of post treatment and 15 days follow-up shows insignificant (p>0.05) result, that signifies no change in improved pain status even after 15 days. But it is also seen that 1 out of 9 patients turned up with increased pain as per PPT. Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, five days session of burst type TENS had hypoalgesic effects for mechanical stimuli by increasing RPPT over MTrPs in bilateral upper trapezius muscle (P<0.05) and in 15 days follow-up there is no such change in improved pain sensitivity of MTrPs . There is also improvement in bilateral cervical lateral flexion range of motion, though in 15 days follow-up the range of motion decreased then post treatment state. This signifies the effectiveness of Burst TENS over MTrP over a duration of 5 days and this can be the ultimate dosimetry as a non invasive, less cost effective and speedy recovery method of treating MTrP.

MTrPs, Upper Trapezius, Burst-TENS

"EFFECTS OF BURST TENS OVER UPPER TRAPEZIUS TRIGGER POINTS- A PILOT DOSIMETRY STUDY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 9, page no.57-62, September-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1809414.pdf

"EFFECTS OF BURST TENS OVER UPPER TRAPEZIUS TRIGGER POINTS- A PILOT DOSIMETRY STUDY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 9, page no. pp57-62, September-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1809414.pdf