Gülşah Çelik, Şebnem Koldaş Doğan
Kastamonu Medical Journal - 2025;5(4):243-247
Aims: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a musculoskeletal condition with trigger points causing pain, stiffness, and postural issues. This study evaluated the impact of scapular stabilization exercises (SSE) on pain, posture, and functional capacity in MPS patients. Methods: A total of 40 patients diagnosed with MPS were retrospectively analyzed and categorized into two groups. All patients received a standard physical therapy program consisting of hot pack, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and cervical isometric exercises. In addition to this standard program, one group performed SSE. Outcomes were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (V AS) for pain, Tragus to wall distance (TWD), New Y ork posture rating (NYPR) score for posture, and Neck Disability Index (NDI) for functionality. Pre- and post-treatment changes were analyzed for both groups. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in V AS, TWD, NYPR, and NDI scores. However, the SSE group exhibited significantly greater improvements across all parameters compared to the standard exercise group. These results suggest that SSE enhances pain relief, postural alignment, and functional capacity more effectively. Conclusion: SSE is an effective intervention for MPS, offering superior outcomes in pain relief, posture, and functionality compared to standard exercises. Larger studies with longer follow-ups are needed to validate these results.
