Ann Rehabil Med.  2013 Aug;37(4):534-540. 10.5535/arm.2013.37.4.534.

Improvement in Anxiety and Pain After Whole Body Whirlpool Hydrotherapy Among Patients With Myofascial Pain Syndrome

• Im SH
• Han EY

• KMID: 2266609
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2013.37.4.534

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of the Whirlpool hydrotherapy on pain and anxiety in chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients, compared to the conventional hydrocollator pack therapy.
METHODS
Forty-one subjects who have MPS in the upper trapezius muscles without depression were recruited. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: the whirlpool therapy group whose bodies were immersed in a whirlpool bath at 34degrees C-36degrees C for 30 minutes; the hydrocollator group who took a 30-minute application of a standard hot hydrocollator pack. Patients in both groups received therapy three days a week for 2 weeks and underwent several evaluations at baseline and after treatment. The variables we analyzed during evaluations were as follows: the primary outcome we considered was pain severity using a visual analogue scale. And the secondary outcomes examined included anxiety using the Korean version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory and quality of life (QoL) using the Korean version of the World Health Organization QoL Assessment, Brief Form. All follow-up values were compared with the baseline values.
RESULTS
The baseline parameters did not show significant differences between two groups. And after 2-week treatment, both groups revealed significant improvement in anxiety levels and QoL, as well as in pain. However, the improvement on pain (p=0.002) and anxiety (p=0.010) was significantly greater in the whirlpool group, compared to the hydrocollator group.
CONCLUSION
The whirlpool hydrotherapy can be used as a more effective therapeutic method to reduce pain and anxiety in chronic MPS patients without depression.

Keyword

Hydrotherapy; Myofascial pain syndromes; Anxiety

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hydrotherapy
Muscles
Myofascial Pain Syndromes
Quality of Life
World Health Organization

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