Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: PM R. 2013 Jun 28;5(11):931–938. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2013.06.006

TABLE 1.

Inclusion, Exclusion Criteria and Standard Assessments

1. Inclusion Criteria

  • Adults 18–65.

  • Active Group must have neck/upper trapezius pain for 3 months or more and a palpable nodule which when palpated produces pain that is characteristic of the pain they identify

  • Control Group must have a normal physical examination, no active trigger points

2. Exclusion Criteria:

  • Fibromyalgia, other pain syndromes

  • Cervical or lumbar radiculopathy

  • Atypical facial neuralgia

  • History of head, neck, cervical spine or shoulder surgery

  • Recently prescribed (<6 weeks) pain medication

  • Current throat or ear infection

3. Assessments:

  • Palpation of neck and upper trapezius

  • Relevant medical history

  • Kendall 10 point Manual Muscle Test: cervical and shoulder muscles

  • CROM measure neck ROM

  • Algometry: 4 upper trapezius sites (see Table 2)

  • Standardized Self-reports: Visual Analog Scale for Pain, SF-36, Profile of Mood States (POMS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)