Temperature response as a contralateral effect of physiotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: In the presented research, we characterized the contralateral effect after applying capacitive and resistive transfer of energy (TECAR) in the treatment of active myofascial trigger point (MTrP). In order to assess the contralateral effect, we used the infrared thermovision method. We hypothesize that by means of thermal imaging studies, we will be able to present and confirm the contralateral effect which can be important in establishing the MTrP treatment protocol with the use of TECAR.

Material and methods: In the study, thermographic imaging was performed on a group of 6 volunteers with an age range [25-45] years (mean age: 32.3 years ± 9.83 years) who were randomly selected for the study from among people practicing recreational sports and showing the clinical presence of active MTrP in the upper trapezius muscle (UT).

Results: On both sides, the reference area (side untreated) and the target area (side treated), there was an increase in the percentage changes of isotherms. These results indicate the presence of a contralateral effect. The use of TECAR therapy ipsilaterally in the treatment of MTrP in UT results in an increase of temperature on the symmetrical body part and it may be connected with the presence of vascular contralateral effect on the untreated side.

Conclusions: These changes were investigated by IR which, as our research shows, can be an effective form of assessing the therapeutic effects of TECAR in MTrP treatment.