This study was designed to compare the effects of transcutaneus electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on myofascial trigger point (MTrP) of the upper trapezius muscle. A total of 40 patients were randomly divided into three groups. All patients had active MTrP in one side of the upper trapezius muscles. Group I was treated with TENS and trapezius-stretching exercises; group II was treated with EMS and trapezius-stretching exercises and group III, the control group, had only trapezius-stretching exercises. Subjective pain intensity with VAS, range of motion (ROM), and pain threshold (PT) were assessed before, immediately after two week treatment and 3 months after treatment. Group I had a statistically significant reduction in VAS (p < 0.01), increase in PT and ROM (p < 0.05) at end of the treatment when compared with the control group. Only VAS was significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the group II patients. At the end of the third month, both groups showed highly significant improvement (p < 0.01) in VAS and PT (but not ROM). There was no statistical difference in none of parameters between EMS and TENS groups in any time (p > 0.05). In conclusion, TENS seem to be more effective immediately after treatment but in long term evaluation there is no significant superiority of two electrotherapy techniques on each other.

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