Contributions of myofascial pain in diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain. A randomized control trial

Sara Perez-Palomares, Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez, Ana Mª Arnal-Burró, Orlando Mayoral-Del Moral, Elena Gaspar-Calvo, Mª Luisa de-la-Torre-Beldarraín, Elena López-Lapeña, Marina Pérez-Benito, Victoria Ara-Loriente, Laura Romo-Calvo

Rotator cuff tendinopathy and subacromial impingement syndrome present complex patomechanical situations, frequent difficulties in clinical diagnosis and lack of effectiveness in treatment. Based on clinical experience, we have therefore considered the existence of another pathological entity as the possible origin of pain and dysfunction. The hypothesis of this study is to relate subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), since myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) cause pain, functional limitation, lack of coordination and alterations in quality of movement, even prior to a tendinopathy. MTrPs can coexist with any degenerative subacromial condition. If they are not taken into consideration, they could perpetuate and aggravate the problem, hindering diagnosis and making the applied treatments ineffective.The aims and methods of this study are related with providing evidence of the relationship that may exist between this condition and MPS in the diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff tendonitis and/or SIS.