Disability and related factors in patients with chronic cervical myofascial pain

The aim of this study is to detect whether cervical myofascial pain leads to disability and to determine factors associated with disability in patients with chronic cervical myofascial pain. One hundred-three female patients with chronic cervical myofascial pain and 30 age-matched healthy females participated. Main outcome measurements are visual analog scale, Neck Pain and Disability scale, Beck Depression Inventory and pain pressure threshold measurements from the most usual trigger-point locations of trapezius, levator scapula, multifidus, and splenius capitis muscles. The Neck Pain and Disability scale and Beck Depression Inventory scores of the patient group were higher than controls. In the patient group, the total Neck Pain and Disability scale scores were significantly correlated with the pain pressure threshold values of the trapezius and levator scapula muscles and Beck Depression Inventory scores. Regression analyses showed that increased disease duration (R ² = 0.37), decreased pain pressure threshold values of trapezius muscle (R ² = 0.04), unilateral disease (R ² = 0.02) and increased Beck Depression Inventory scores (R ² = 0.02) were associated with higher disability. Cervical myofascial pain is a reason for disability in chronic neck pain population. Disease duration was found as the strongest predictor of disability.