{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,26]],"date-time":"2026-06-26T15:50:53Z","timestamp":1782489053886,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,19]],"date-time":"2026-04-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776556800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,19]],"date-time":"2026-04-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776556800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100015027","name":"Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["140108176863"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["140108176863"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100015027","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Musculoskeletal Care"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Myofascial pain syndrome affecting the upper trapezius significantly impairs function, and conventional physiotherapy often has limited efficacy in refractory cases. TECAR therapy has emerged as a potential adjunct treatment, though robust evidence supporting its use remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TECAR therapy on pain reduction, neck range of motion, and Neck Disability Index scores in patients with upper trapezius myofascial trigger points.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This double\u2010blind, randomized controlled trial enrolled 44 participants with active upper trapezius trigger points. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: standard physiotherapy alone or physiotherapy combined with TECAR therapy. Primary outcomes\u2014assessed before and after the intervention\u2014included pain intensity (measured by VAS), cervical lateral flexion range of motion, and functional disability (evaluated using the NDI).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The TECAR therapy group showed significantly better outcomes across all measured parameters compared to the control group: greater pain reduction (mean VAS difference: \u22123.77 vs. \u22122.33), greater improvement in cervical lateral flexion (+7.50\u00b0 vs. +4.47\u00b0), and more substantial functional recovery (NDI change: \u221214.90 vs. \u22126.40). These between\u2010group differences remained statistically significant after adjusting for baseline severity (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u00a0&lt;\u00a00.05 for all comparisons).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>TECAR therapy demonstrates clinically meaningful enhancement of conventional physiotherapy outcomes in upper trapezius myofascial pain, particularly among patients with greater baseline disability. Its noninvasive profile and synergistic treatment effects justify its consideration for integration into standard rehabilitation protocols. However, further research with extended follow\u2010up periods is needed to evaluate its long\u2010term efficacy.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Trial Registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Trial Registration Number: IRCT20190202042581N4, Date of trial registration: 2\/11\/2022<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/msc.70203","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T03:15:50Z","timestamp":1776654950000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Effects of TECAR Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With Myofascial Trigger Points in the Upper Trapezius Muscle: A Randomized Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Hojjat","family":"Radinmehr","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences Hamadan University of Medical Sciences  Hamadan Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Soulmaz","family":"Rahbar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences Hamadan University of Medical Sciences  Hamadan Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ailin","family":"Talimkhani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences Hamadan University of Medical Sciences  Hamadan Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Parsa","family":"Owliaee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences Hamadan University of Medical Sciences  Hamadan Iran"},{"name":"Student Research Committee Hamadan University of Medical Sciences  Hamadan Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hanieh","family":"Montazerlotf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences Hamadan University of Medical Sciences  Hamadan Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohammad Reza","family":"Asadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences Hamadan University of Medical Sciences  Hamadan Iran"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,19]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","first-page":"653","article-title":"Trigger Points: Diagnosis and Management","volume":"65","author":"Alvarez D. 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