Riassunto dello studio

Seventy patients with mechanical neck pain were randomized to receive either high-power pain threshold ultrasound (HPPTUS) combined with traditional therapy (n=35) or traditional therapy alone (n=35). The primary outcomes of interest were pain intensity and pressure pain threshold. Secondary outcomes included neck disability, upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscle amplitude (RMS), and fatigue (median frequency). Outcomes were assessed before and after 4 weeks of intervention. Overall, the results of the study revealed that the group receiving HPPTUS plus traditional therapy had significantly greater improvements across all outcomes (p=0.0001), including pain reduction, improved PPT, lower RMS, and higher median frequency values. These findings suggest that HPPTUS enhances the effects of traditional therapy in managing mechanical neck pain.