Volume 88, Issue 6 , Pages 780-784, June 2007
The Evaluation of Electrodermal Properties in the Identification of Myofascial Trigger Points
Abstract
Shultz SP, Driban JB, Swanik CB. The evaluation of electrodermal properties in the identification of myofascial trigger points.
Objectives
To determine whether skin resistance measurements can objectively identify the location of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) and to differentiate between 3 states.
Design
Static group comparison.
Setting
Climate-controlled laboratory.
Participants
Forty-nine participants (age, 20.5±2.6y) were assigned to 1 of 3 groups based on clinical examination result: absent (n=21), latent (n=16), or active (n=12) MTP.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure
Skin resistance (in kilo-ohms).
Results
The 16 data points were divided into 3 categories for analysis: MTP site, surrounding tissue proximal to the MTP (first ring), and area furthest from the MTP (second ring). There was a significant increase in skin resistance between the MTP (403.64±124.73kΩ), first ring (419.66±123.04kΩ), and second ring (454.61±163.19kΩ) (P<.01). The measurements did not differ significantly between the 3 MTP states.
Conclusions
The changes in skin resistance between the MTP and the surrounding tissue support the inclusion of this technique to help identify MTPs. The similarity between MTP states warrants investigation into the physiologic differences at specific anatomic locations.
Key Words: Electrodermal response, Myofascial pain syndromes, Rehabilitation
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
PII: S0003-9993(07)00221-3
doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2007.03.012
© 2007 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 88, Issue 6 , Pages 780-784, June 2007
