Overview
The aim of this study is to compare the developed home-based surface electrical stimulation program to the controls in computer office workers with MPS.
Description
Cervical myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common problem among workers who have large amount of computer use. Additionally, owing to the high workload and long hours of staying in thier cubicle, the office employees are often unable to have extra time to receive rehabilitation and treatment regularly. A home-based surface electrical stimulation (SES) program is developed to help intervention be time-saving and more accessible for office-based staff busy at work.
In this single-blind randomized controlled trial, participants will be assigned to one of the following three groups and undergo 3 weeks (20 minutes/ time, three times/ week) of
- intervention
-
- SES combined with telemedical support
- SES
- No intervention
The outcome assessments will be performed before and after the intervention (0-wk and 4-wk) and 4 weeks after the endpoint of intervention (8-wk). The outcome assessor was blind to the intervention and group allocation.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Time of using computer > 4hrs/day
- Neck pain > 2 months
- Diagnosis of cervical myofascial pain syndrome
- VAS pain ≥ 3 (0~10)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Had a history of neck surgery
- Pregnancy
- Systematic disease (e.g. autoimmune disorders, arthritis, infection, etc.)
- Malignancy
- Neurological signs such as radiating pain, motor weakness in the upper extremities.
- Skin defect or scars at the planned placement of SES
- Pacemaker user
- History of seizure attack
- History of diabetes
- Fear of receiving SES