The Effectiveness of Heat Herb Treatment on Pain Levels and Cervical Range of Motion in Myofascial Pain Syndrome Patients
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Abstract
Introduction and objective: Myofascial pain syndrome can affect individuals of all ages. It stems from improper behavior or posture during activities such as prolonged sitting with hunched shoulders or extended use of computers and phones. Consequently, muscles in the upper back, shoulder blades, neck, and shoulders experience pain and stiffness, which significantly impacts daily life and overall quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of heat herb treatment on pain levels and cervical range of motion in myofascial pain syndrome’s patients..
Methods: This quasi-experiment clinical study that involved a procedure of heat herb treatment for pain relief in 30 patients with upper back pain on the scapular region. The treatment was conducted for 30 minutes per session, 3 times every other day at Traditional Thai Medicine Hospital, Prince of Songkhla University. Treatment efficacy was assessed using visual analogue scale, Cervical Range of Motion, and satisfaction with the treatment. Analysis was conducted by comparing pre- and post-treatment results using paired t-test statistics at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: Among the participants, most of them were female with an average age of 22.07±3.78 years; and 53.33% commonly experienced pain during activity or movement. After the heat herb treatment, their pain levels significantly decreased and the degree of neck movement significantly increased (p<0.001). Overall, they reported very good satisfaction with the treatment, with a mean satisfaction score of 2.97 ± 0.67.
Discussion: The heat herb treatment involves a topical heat therapy known for its pain-relieving properties and ability to increase neck movement degrees. This is achieved through the heat's impact on blood vessels within the muscles, causing them to expand and enhancing blood circulation. As a result, skin and muscle flexibility increases, muscle spasms reduce, and physiological changes occur, leading to clinical improvements. This procedure can effectively enhance the flexibility of neck and shoulder muscles, consequently increasing the range of neck movement. Therefore, the findings of this study provide valuable data supporting the use of heat herb treatment in the relief of upper back pain among patients.
Conclusion and recommendation: The heat herb treatment procedure used in this study was effective in reducing upper back pain and increasing the cervical range of motion in patients with upper back pain.
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