Aims and background: Trigger points are sensitive points in the skeletal muscle and neck muscles that cause referral pain, decrease the range of motion and muscle soreness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the Positional Release Technique with and without strain-counter strain technique on the pain, neck range of motion in men with active trigger points in upper trapezius muscle. Materials and methods: The target community included the employees of the Mellat bank of Tehran city, which had trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle, ageing from 30 to 60 years old. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received a Positional Release Technique with strain-counter strain technique and the second group received only a Positional Release Technique. Each group received five treatment sessions. Pain was assessed on the basis of Visual analogue scale (VAS) and neck range of motion by goniometer before and 48 hours after treatment. The statistical methods used included two way ANOVA. Findings: There was a significant difference in pain severity and neck range of motion after intervention in both groups (P <0.005). Compared to the two groups after the treatment, there was a significant difference in the severity of pain as well as the neck range of motion (P <0.005), in the other words More improvements were achieved in Positional Release Technique with strain-counter strain technique group. Conclusion: Positional Release Technique in two situations with and without strain-counter strain technique is effective in reducing pain and improving the neck motion in people with trigger points of upper trapezius muscle. A Positional Release Technique combined with strain-counter strain technique was more effective in reducing pain and increasing the neck range of motion compared with the Positional Release Technique group.
 

Keywords: trigger points, upper trapezius muscle, strain-counter strain technique, Positional Release Technique

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