To investigate the comparative treatment effects of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment (UG-PRF) in the gastrocnemius interfascial space and ultrasound-guided interfascial injection (UG-INJ) on myofascial pain syndrome.
Forty consecutive patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the gastrocnemius were enrolled and were allocated to one of the two groups. Twenty patients were treated by UG-PRF delivered to the gastrocnemius interfascial space (UG-PRF group) and the other 20 patients were treated by interfascial injection (UG-INJ group). The primary outcome measure was the numeric rating score (NRS) for pain on pressing the tender point in the gastrocnemius, and the secondary outcome measure was health-related quality of life as determined by the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36). NRSs were obtained at the first visit, immediately after treatment, and at 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment, and physical component summary scores (PCS) and mental component summary scores (MCS) of the SF-36 questionnaire were measured at the first visit and at 4 weeks post-treatment.
Immediately after treatments, mean NRS in the UG-PRF group was significantly higher than that in the UG-INJ group (p<0.0001). However, at 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment, the mean NRS was significantly lower in the UG-PRF group (both p<0.0001). Similarly, at 4 weeks post-treatment, mean PCS and MCS were significantly higher in the UG-PRF group (p<0.0001 and p=0.002, respectively).
Based on these results, the authors conclude that ultrasound-guided gastrocnemius interfascial PRF provides an attractive treatment for myofascial pain syndrome of the gastrocnemius.
Citations
To investigate the therapeutic effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) according to treatment session on gastrocnemius muscle spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
Twelve children with spastic CP underwent 1 ESWT and 2 sham ESWT sessions for gastrocnemius (group 1) or 3 ESWT sessions (group 2) once per week for 3 weeks. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score, passive range of motion (PROM) of the ankle plantar-flexor muscles with knee extension, and median red pixel intensity (RPI) of color histogram of medial gastrocnemius on real-time sonoelastography (RTS) were measured before ESWT, immediately after the first and third ESWT, and at 4 weeks after the third ESWT.
Mean ankle PROM was significantly increased whereas as mean ankle MAS and median gastrocnemius RPI were significantly decreased in both groups after the first ESWT. Clinical and RTS parameters before ESWT were not significantly different from those immediately after the third ESWT or at 4 weeks after the third ESWT in group 1. However, they were significantly different from those immediately after the third ESWT or at 4 weeks after the third ESWT in group 2. Mean ankle PROM, mean ankle MAS, and median gastrocnemius RPI in group 2 were significantly different from that in group 1 at 4 weeks or immediately after the third ESWT.
The therapeutic effect of ESWT on spastic medial gastrocnemius in children with spastic CP is dependent on the number of ESWT sessions.
Citations
Objective: To identify the relationship between the location of motor points of gastrocnemius and soleus and the skin surface landmarks.
Method: Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of each lattice of gastrocnemius and soleus in 11 healthy subjects were recorded. Standardized reference lines were made as follows: 1) a horizontal reference line (popliteal crease) and 2) a vertical reference line drawn between mid-points of the horizontal reference line and inter-malleolus connection line. The CMAPs were mapped horizontally and vertically 1cm width to the standardized reference lines. Location of motor points was mapped to the skin surface in the ratio of length of the vertical and horizontal reference lines.
Results: The motor point of medial head of gastrocnemius was located at 41.0⁑6.1% distal and 54.6⁑19.2% medial to the mid-point of horizontal reference line. The location of the motor point of the lateral head of gastrocnemius was 35.7⁑5.2% distal and 48.5⁑15.1% lateral, respectively. In the soleus, the motor point was at 68.6⁑8.0% distal and 10.5⁑9.0% lateral, respectively.
Conclusion: The motor point of the lateral head of gastrocnemius was located more proximally relative to medial head, and the motor point of soleus was located at slightly lateral side of the vertical reference line. The author concluded that mapping of motor points of the gastro-soleus muscles would increase accessibility in performing phenol motor point block or botulinum toxin injection for management of spasticity or abnormal tonicity of the ankle.
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