Trigger point self-care for chronic neck pain: Pilot and feasibility

Objectives Trigger points are thought to be associated with chronic neck pain and can be treated with massage self-care techniques such as trigger point self-care. We sought to examine the feasibility of a developed group training approach for trigger point self-care to inform future efficacy focused clinical trials for chronic neck pain. Methods Self-identified adults with chronic neck pain were recruited to participate in one of two scheduled group training sessions. Data was collected pre- and post-training with follow-up at 1-, 4-, and 8-weeks. Measures included a trigger point self-care training objectives survey, daily self-report logs, and neck disability and pain via the Neck Disability Index. Training included interactive lecture, demonstration, supervised practice, and assessment for an individualized trigger point self-care plan. Handouts and tools were provided for training and home use. Results Five participants (women = 3; ages 22–58; White = 4) enrolled and completed the study. All participants completed each data collection point, attended a post-intervention focus group or interview, submitted their completed daily self-care log, and reported achieving all intended training objectives. All participants felt the downtown university location was convenient and non-clinical environment simulated a real-world educational/training experience. Two participants reported having some discomfort the day after training, most expected the training would help them, and several expressed excitement about learned content and empowerment to manage their own pain. Neck Disability Index scores at week-1 did not change for 1 participant, worsened for 1 participant, and improved for 3 participants. All participants’ Neck Disability Index scores were better than baseline at week-4 and week-8. Conclusions Our trigger point self-care group training approach was acceptable to study participants and is feasible to implement in future clinical trials. Larger studies including participants with more severe neck pain and disability are needed to test the trigger point self-care approach.