Subjects
Participants were AECC students. Subjects were
admitted into the study if they met the following
criteria:
18—55 years of age
had mechanical neck pain for less than 3 months
had an active upper trapezius TrP (an active upper
trapezius TrP was defined as a tender nodule in a
taut band that referred pain in a pattern specific
for upper trapezius TrP1 or TrP2)
7
pain of at least 30 mm on a visual analogue scale
(VAS)
decreased cervical lateral flexion to the opposite
side of the active upper trapezius TrP
We excluded those who were taking anticoagulants
or who were using long-term corticosteroid
therapy, and those with specific causes for their neck
pain.
Each subject read a Study Information Sheet and
signed an Informed Consent Form before enrolment
in the study. The randomisation scheme was
generated by using the web site Randomization.com
. To ensure
equal numbers in the groups, subjects were randomised
in blocks of three. Sealed opaque envelopes
were prepared containing the assigned treatment
and numbered consecutively. Subjects were allocated
to the next available envelope number.
In