Background

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) on pressure pain threshold (PPT), pain intensity, wrist flexion and grip strength in young patients with latent myofascial trigger points in the wrist extensor muscles.

Methods

Sixty-two participants were randomly assigned to received three 20-min sessions per week of either TTM (mean age = 20.9 ± 1.40 years, body mass index (BMI) = 21.61 ± 3.46 kg/m²) or sham ultrasound therapy (SUS) (mean age = 20.71 ± 1.90 years, BMI = 23.06 ± 5.17 kg/m²) for 9 sessions. PPT, pain intensity, wrist flexion and grip strength were assessed at baseline, weeks 3, and 5.

Results

In both groups, significant improvement in PPT, pain intensity and wrist flexion were observed after the intervention period and at two weeks after the intervention period (P < .05) except for the PPT in the SUS group (P > .05). The TTM group showed a significantly greater improvement in PPT, pain intensity and wrist flexion than the SUS group at weeks 3 and 5 (P < .05).

Conclusion

TTM can improve the PPT, pain intensity and wrist flexion in this patient population.