Highlights
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Patients’ infraspinatus with trigger points are stiffer than matched controls
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Heightened stiffness present in contralateral uninvolved infraspinatus
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No evidence of a localized band with increased tissue stiffness
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate stiffness of infraspinatus muscle tissue, both with and without latent
trigger points, using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE). The primary hypothesis
is that muscle with a latent trigger point will demonstrate a discrete region of increased
shear wave speed. The secondary hypothesis is that shear wave speed (SWS) in the region
with the trigger point will be higher in patients compared with controls, and will
be similar between the two groups in the uninvolved regions.
Design
Case–control.
Setting
Hospital–based outpatient physical therapy center.
Participants
Convenience sample (N=18) of patients (6 female, 3 male, mean age=44) (range=31-61y)
diagnosed with latent trigger points in infraspinatus and matched controls without
trigger points.
Main Outcome Measures
Shear wave speed (m/s).
Results
SWS of the latent trigger point (mean=4.09±SD1.4 m/s) did not differ from the adjacent
muscle tissue (3.92±1.6 m/s, P>.05), but was elevated compared to corresponding tissue in controls (2.8±0.75 m/s,
P=.02). SWS was generally greater in patients’ uninvolved tissue (3.83±1.6 m/s) when
compared to corresponding tissue in controls (2.62±0.2 m/s, P=.05).
Conclusion
Although discrete regions of increased SWS corresponding to the trigger point were
not observed in patients, evidence of generally increased muscle stiffness in infraspinatus
was exhibited compared to healthy controls. Further study of additional muscles with
SWE is warranted.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
MRE (Magnetic Resonance Elastography), SWE (Shear Wave Elastography), SWS (Shear Wave Speed)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 27, 2018
Footnotes
Current affiliation for Grabowski: University of Wisconsin La Crosse, Physical Therapy Program, La Crosse, WI.
Current affiliation for Slane: Allen School of Engineering and Technology, Trine University, Angola, IN.
Current affiliation for Obermire: Samaritan Health Services, Corvallis, OR.
Supported by the UW Sports Medicine Research Fund.
Disclosures: Dr. Grabowski receives income from Kiio, Inc. for serving as a consultant on the scientific advisory board. The other authors have nothing to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
