Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred Pain
The purpose of this research is to identify and correlate the referred pain evocated by myofascial trigger points (TrPs) pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the sternocleidomastoid muscle using thermal infrared imaging (IR). Facial IR images of 46 volunteers (21 male and 25 female, average age 32 ± 6.3...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/14/6510 |
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| author | Francesco Caroccia Lucia Raimondi Francesco Moscagiuri Michele D’Attilio |
| author_facet | Francesco Caroccia Lucia Raimondi Francesco Moscagiuri Michele D’Attilio |
| author_sort | Francesco Caroccia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this research is to identify and correlate the referred pain evocated by myofascial trigger points (TrPs) pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the sternocleidomastoid muscle using thermal infrared imaging (IR). Facial IR images of 46 volunteers (21 male and 25 female, average age 32 ± 6.3) undergoing PPT of five TrPs locations on the sternocleidomastoid belly were recorded. Each PPT lasted 10 s, with an interstimulus interval of 2 min. Sixteen thermal IR images were recorded for each subject: at baseline (t0), 2 s before PPT (t1), 2 s (t2) and 60 s (t3) after PPT of each TrPs location. During the interstimulus interval, subjects were asked to draw over a head–neck template displayed on a computer screen the areas of referred pain eventually evoked by the stimulation and the referred pain intensity by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The VAS template was then superimposed with the IR records. Two temperature (T) variations were calculated: ΔT<sub>1</sub> = T(t2) − T(t1) and ΔT<sub>2</sub> = T(t3) − T(t1). Differences in ∆T range ≥ 0.2 °C have been considered significant. In 77% of the superimpositions, the referred pain area corresponded to a ΔT<sub>2</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C while only the 59% corresponded to a ΔT<sub>1</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C. In 19% of superimpositions, a ΔT<sub>2</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C did not correspond to a referred pain area indicated by the patient, and this percentage lowers to 4% for ΔT<sub>1</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C. None of the areas that reported a VAS of 0 or 1 showed a ΔT<sub>1</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C or a ΔT<sub>2</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C. Considering the limitations of this pilot study, IR could be used to identify referred pain evocated by TrPs on sternocleidomastoid muscle. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:46:00Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:46:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-7a99c7f268954d529e4434e2ae408fbf2023-11-22T03:10:54ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-07-011114651010.3390/app11146510Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred PainFrancesco Caroccia0Lucia Raimondi1Francesco Moscagiuri2Michele D’Attilio3Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyThe purpose of this research is to identify and correlate the referred pain evocated by myofascial trigger points (TrPs) pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the sternocleidomastoid muscle using thermal infrared imaging (IR). Facial IR images of 46 volunteers (21 male and 25 female, average age 32 ± 6.3) undergoing PPT of five TrPs locations on the sternocleidomastoid belly were recorded. Each PPT lasted 10 s, with an interstimulus interval of 2 min. Sixteen thermal IR images were recorded for each subject: at baseline (t0), 2 s before PPT (t1), 2 s (t2) and 60 s (t3) after PPT of each TrPs location. During the interstimulus interval, subjects were asked to draw over a head–neck template displayed on a computer screen the areas of referred pain eventually evoked by the stimulation and the referred pain intensity by means of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The VAS template was then superimposed with the IR records. Two temperature (T) variations were calculated: ΔT<sub>1</sub> = T(t2) − T(t1) and ΔT<sub>2</sub> = T(t3) − T(t1). Differences in ∆T range ≥ 0.2 °C have been considered significant. In 77% of the superimpositions, the referred pain area corresponded to a ΔT<sub>2</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C while only the 59% corresponded to a ΔT<sub>1</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C. In 19% of superimpositions, a ΔT<sub>2</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C did not correspond to a referred pain area indicated by the patient, and this percentage lowers to 4% for ΔT<sub>1</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C. None of the areas that reported a VAS of 0 or 1 showed a ΔT<sub>1</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C or a ΔT<sub>2</sub> ≥ 0.2 °C. Considering the limitations of this pilot study, IR could be used to identify referred pain evocated by TrPs on sternocleidomastoid muscle.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/14/6510thermographymyofascial pain syndromestemporomandibular joint disordersmasticatory musclessternocleidomastoid |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Caroccia Lucia Raimondi Francesco Moscagiuri Michele D’Attilio Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred Pain Applied Sciences thermography myofascial pain syndromes temporomandibular joint disorders masticatory muscles sternocleidomastoid |
| title | Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred Pain |
| title_full | Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred Pain |
| title_fullStr | Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred Pain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred Pain |
| title_short | Stimulation of Myofascial Trigger Points in the Sternocleidomastoid Evokes Facial Thermal Response Correlated with the Referred Pain |
| title_sort | stimulation of myofascial trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid evokes facial thermal response correlated with the referred pain |
| topic | thermography myofascial pain syndromes temporomandibular joint disorders masticatory muscles sternocleidomastoid |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/14/6510 |
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