Effect of Deep Transverse Friction Massage and Ischemic Compression in Trapezitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Trapezitis is a commonly seen condition due to overuse and faulty posture. It leads to myofascialtrigger points and muscle spasm. It causes range of motion restriction of cervical spine, tenderness and neckpain.Aim: To evaluate the long term effect on pain and restricted range of motion following three days oftreatment involving deep transverse friction massage, ischemic compression and sham conventional groupin upper trapezitis.Methodology: A Randomized controlled trial with 66 subjects (F = 61, M = 5) complaining of uppertrapezius pain since 15 days were randomly allocated for the study into three different groups with 22subjects in each group (Group A= Deep Transverse Friction Massage, group B = Ischemic Compression andgroup C = Conventional Therapy). Pre and post treatment visual analogue scale and lateral flexion of thecervical spine to the opposite side were taken.Result and Conclusion: The results showed statistically significant improvement (p=0.0001) pre and posttreatment within the groups. But there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p >0.05). Hence all the three groups were equally effective in reducing tenderness of upper trapezius.