Ultrasound and laser as stand-alone therapies for myofascial trigger points: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

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Sixty patients suffering from at least one myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle were randomly assigned to one of five different intervention groups: active ultrasound, placebo ultrasound, active low-level laser therapy, placebo low-level laser therapy, and no treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound and low-level laser therapy as stand-alone treatments, as well as their comparative efficacies to one another, placebo, and to no treatment. Outcomes of interest were pressure pain threshold, pressure-related pain, and lateral cervical flexion. Findings suggested active ultrasound and low-level laser therapy were better than no treatment, but did not provide any benefits over placebo treatments.