ReviewJournal of pain research2017
Effectiveness of ultrasound therapy for myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Review in Journal of pain research, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 14 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effectiveness of Percutaneous Microelectrolysis in the Decrease of Pain in Myofascial Trigger Points: Evaluation Through Algometry and Visual Analog Scale. Randomized Controlled Trial.
Effectiveness of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) and Stretching Exercises on Cervical Flexibility and Pain Reduction in Myofascial Trigger Points. Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT).
Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 52 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and safety of low-intensity ultrasound therapy for myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Effectiveness of continuous and pulse mode of ultrasound therapy in temporomandibular disorders associated myalgia-a randomized controlled study.Journal of oral & facial pain and headache · 2025Trial
- Effectiveness of Ultrasound Therapy, TheraBite Device, Masticatory Muscle Exercises, and Stabilization Splint for the Treatment of Masticatory Myofascial Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Clinical and experimental dental research · 2024Trial
- Immediate Effect of Ultrasound on Bilateral Masseter Myalgia: A Randomized Dose-Response Clinical Trial.Journal of oral & facial pain and headache · 2022Trial
- The State of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Myofascial Pain Syndrome-A Scoping Review and a Call for Standardized Protocols.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Extracorporeal ShockWave Treatment vs. mesotherapy in the treatment of myofascial syndromes: a clinical trial.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
- Ultrasound therapy for pain reduction in musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Therapeutic advances in chronic disease · 2024Article
- Review
- Is Exercise Rehabilitation an Effective Adjuvant to Clinical Treatment for Myofascial Trigger Points? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of pain research · 2023Review
- Research Trends of Acupuncture Therapy on Myofascial Pain Syndrome from 2000 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis.Journal of pain research · 2023Review
- [Pain treatment in old age: special features and recommendations].Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie · 2021Review
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Versus Phonophoresis Therapy for Neck Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Anesthesiology and pain medicine · 2021Article
- Effectiveness of Ultrasound Therapy on Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Upper Trapezius: Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.Archives of rheumatology · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe objective of this review was to assess the therapeutic effect of ultrasound (US) on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). DATE SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched to find relevant studies from January 1966 to May 2016 using keywords. Four investigators performed the data extraction. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the outcomes of pain and physical function between MPS patients receiving and not receiving US were selected by two researchers independently. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted from the RCTs. Risk of bias and study quality were evaluated following the recommendations of Cochrane Collaboration. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. DATA SYNTHESIS: A total of 10 studies involving 428 MPS patients were included. US therapy significantly reduced pain intensity (SMD [CI]=-1.41 [-2.15, -0.67],
conclusionOwing to the high risk of bias and the across-trial heterogeneity of the studies, the current evidence is not clear enough to support US as an effective method to treat MPS. Clinical trials with methodological rigorousness and adequate power are needed to confirm it in the future.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.