Comparison of The Effect of High Power Ultrasound and High Intensity Laser Application on Pain and Quality of Life in Myofacial Pain Syndrome

Objective: his study aims to compare the effectiveness of high-power ultrasound (HPU), a novel treatment in myofacial pain syndrome(MPS) management, with high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on pain, depression, and quality of life. Methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with MPS, who had experienced pain for at least three months and had at least one active trigger point(TP) were included in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group 1 received hot pack therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), exercise and HPU, while Group 2 received hot pack therapy, TENS, exercise and HILT. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold with an algometer and hand grip strength with a dynamometer. Quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form-36 (SF-36), psychological status with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) mand cervical health with the Neck Disability Index (NDI). All measurements were taken before and after the treatment. Results: No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of baseline demographic data (p>0.05). Both groups showed significant post-treatment improvements in VAS, BDI, NDI, algometry scores and all SF-36 parameters (p0.05). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in any of the outcome measures after treatment (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both HPU and HILT are effective in the treatment of MPS; however, HPU may be preferred more due to its lower cost, greater accessibility and shorter application time.