Introduction: Myofascial trigger points are extremely common and become a painful part of nearly everyone's life at one time or another. Vibration therapy is increasingly used in the treatment of chronic pathologies affecting muscles, tendons and joints. Several studies evaluating the impact of local vibration therapy on skeletal muscles and joints have highlighted it's effectiveness for increasing joint mobility and decreasing pain. Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of vibration percussion therapy on pressure perception in individuals with latent myofascial trigger points of the levator scapulae muscle. Methods: 60 subjects were included in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Palpation was used to find and determine the appropriate latent trigger point on the levator scapulae muscle. Subjects in the experimental group underwent 90 seconds of local vibration therapy. Subjects included in the control group received a false vibration intervention. Manual electric vibrating device was used to apply local mechanical vibration. In all subjects, sensitivity in the latent myofascial trigger point area was measured with a pressure algometer before and after the therapy. Results: After the therapy, the pressure pain threshold was higher in the experimental group and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0,001). After the therapy, pressure pain threshold decreased in the experimental group compared to before the therapy and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0,001). In the control group, however, the pressure pain threshold increased after the therapy with the difference not statistically significant (p = 0,08). Discussion and conclusion: Our findings have shown that vibration therapy has a significant effect on reducing the perception of pain. Vibration therapy is thus expected to be used as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of myofascial trigger points.
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