An Investigation of Ball Rolling Effects on Trigger Points

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The current study aims to examine the potential effects of rolling a Myostorm ball on the trigger points in the upper back muscles.

Detailed Description
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The investigators will ask the participants to attend the laboratory in two sessions. They will seek the tender spots on the trapezius muscle. Then the participants will be asked to roll a Myostorm ball ( a small hard ball made of plastic with a layer of soft material cover) on their affected muscles. They will be tested for pain-pressure threshold (PPT), shoulder range of motion, electromyography (EMG), and force before and after the manipulation.

Official Title
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An Investigation of Ball Rolling Effects on Trigger Points

Conditions
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Trigger Point Pain, Myofascial

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: ball-rolling (Myostorm ball)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: trigger points on the trapezius muscle Exclusion Criteria: back injury

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Ball rolling<br>The ball-rolling group will be asked to roll the ball on the trapezius muscle. | Device: ball-rolling (Myostorm ball)<br>* the intervention group<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>The control group with no intervention | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Range of Motion before ball rolling | the range of motion in the shoulder joint | 3 minutes before the intervention (Ball-rolling) | 
| Pain pressure threshold before ball rolling | the measurement of the pain pressure threshold on the trapezius muscle using Lafayette Muscle Tester; A hand-held algometer will be applied on the participant's skin and an incremental pressure will be applied until the participant notify the experimenter to stop. The pain pressure threshold will be reported in kilogram/cm2. | 3 minutes before the intervention (Ball-rolling) | 
| Range of Motion after ball rolling | the range of motion in the shoulder joint | up to 3 minutes after the intervention (Ball-rolling) | 
| Pain pressure threshold after ball rolling | the measurement of the pain pressure threshold on the trapezius muscle using Lafayette Muscle Tester; A hand-held algometer will be applied on the participant's skin and an incremental pressure will be applied until the participant notify the experimenter to stop. The pain pressure threshold will be reported in kilogram/cm2. | up to 3 minutes after the intervention (Ball-rolling) |