rESWT vs LLLT for Cervical Myofascial Pain

NCT07593781 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ESWT vs LLLT in Cervical MPS
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background and Aim: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in the cervical region is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders associated with myofascial trigger points that cause muscle pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion, precipitated by forward head posture. Many non-invasive modalities, including low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), have been reported to reduce symptoms. However, comparative effectiveness of these interventions remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of radial ESWT and LLLT in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes in patients with cervical MPS among the working-age adults. Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted in a working-age adults with MPS. Fifty subjects, divided in two groups received either ESWT or LLLT. Numeric rating scale (NRS), cervical range of motion (ROM), and craniovertebral angle (CVA) were assessed before and throughout three weeks post intervention. Results: Both LLLT and ESWT showed significant (p \< 0.001) changes in NRS, cervical ROM, and CVA. LLLT showed a difference in pain reduction at week three (p \< 0.001) and flexion and extension ROM at week two and three (p \< 0.05). Conclusion: LLLT demonstrated superior results in pain reduction at the three-week mark and produced greater increases in cervical flexion and extension ROM during the two- and three-week periods when compared with ESWT.

Conditions

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy; Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial; Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Neck; Low-Level Light Therapy

Keywords

neck pain; extracorporeal shockwave therapy; low-level light therapy; trigger points; myofascial pain syndromes

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Pain Intensity Changes (Numeric Rating Scale)

  NRS is an instrument to evaluate pain subjectively, with 11 scores of pain, ranging from 0 "no pain" to 10 "worst pain possible." Pain intensity categorized into mild (0-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (\>7). Participants must be fully conscious, mentally competent, and able to communicate verbally. MCID in the NRS score is 1.3.21

  3 weeks

• Cervical Range of Motion

  Cervical ROM was used to detect movement dysfunction on patients' necks. Limitation of ROM can be caused by pain, muscle shortening, and other structural problems. ROM was measured with a goniometer.22 Patients were positioned to measure neck flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation. The examiner then measured the angle formed. Normal ranges are 1) flexion: 45.9-46.8°, 2) extension: 42.7-47.4°, 3) rotation to right: 63.3-67.2°, 4) rotation to left: 65.7-67.8°, 5) lateral flexion to right: 31.5-34.9°, and 6) lateral flexion to left: 31.4-36.6°.23

  3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Craniovertebral angle

  3 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The first group intervened with ESWT BTL-5000 SWR radial 2000-4000 pulse per session, once a week, for a duration of 10-60 minutes, for three weeks. ESWT was applied to MTrPs bilaterally at 2.5 bar, with a frequency of up to 10 Hz and an energy flux density of 0.05-0.35 mJ/mm². Ultrasound gel was applied to the skin where ESWT probes were attached.

Device: Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

Low-Level Laser Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The second group received LLLT with BTL 4000 a total of six times, given twice a week. LLLT was applied to palpated active MTrPs at a dose of 40-50 J and an average power of 100 mW.

Device: Low-Level Laser Therapy

Interventions

Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy DEVICE

The first group intervened with ESWT BTL-5000 SWR radial 2000-4000 pulse per session, once a week, for a duration of 10-60 minutes, for three weeks. ESWT was applied to MTrPs bilaterally at 2.5 bar, with a frequency of up to 10 Hz and an energy flux density of 0.05-0.35 mJ/mm². Ultrasound gel was applied to the skin where ESWT probes were attached.

Also known as: rESWT, ESWT

Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

Low-Level Laser Therapy DEVICE

The second group received LLLT with BTL 4000 a total of six times, given twice a week. LLLT was applied to palpated active MTrPs at a dose of 40-50 J and an average power of 100 mW

Also known as: LLLT, photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, Low-Level Light Therapy

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 59 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• men and women
• aged 18 to 59 years old
• sedentary activity level
• active MTrP on the upper trapezius muscle
• moderate pain with an NRS pain score of 4-7
• restriction of ROM
• CVA angle of ≤ 50°
• All agreed to participate in this study with informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• patients who were unable to complete the assessment or communicate adequately based on the Indonesian version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-Ina)
• experiencing neck pain caused by radicular syndrome proven with the Spurling test, distraction test and Adson test.
• history of malignancy
• history of blood clotting disorder
• receiving anticoagulant therapy
• in a emergency state (e.g., loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, active bleeding, seizures, or hyperpyrexia)
• pregnant
• participants with pacemaker
• participants undergoing other treatments (manual therapy, massage, acupuncture, dry needling, or other rehabilitation modalities) for neck pain in the previous two weeks

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Indonesia University: lead
• Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital

Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Neck Pain

Interventions

Low-Level Light Therapy; Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Laser Therapy; Phototherapy

Study Officials

• Tirza Z Tamin, MD

  Indonesia University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 12, 2026
• First Posted: May 18, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 30, 2025
• Study Completion: September 1, 2025
• Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ID (1)