OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a burst application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on cervical range of motion and pressure point sensitivity of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). DESIGN: A single-session, single-blind randomized trial. SETTING: General community rehabilitation clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals (n = 76; 45 men, 31 women) aged 18 to 41 years (mean +/- SD 23 +/- 4 y) with latent MTrPs in 1 upper trapezius muscle. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: a TENS group that received a burst-type TENS (pulse width, 200 mus; frequency, 100 Hz; burst frequency, 2 Hz) stimulation over the upper trapezius for 10 minutes, and a placebo group that received a sham-TENS application over the upper trapezius also for 10 minutes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Referred pressure pain threshold (RPPT) over the MTrP and cervical range of motion in rotation were assessed before, and 1 and 5 minutes after the intervention by an assessor blinded to subjects' treatment. RESULTS: The analysis of covariance revealed a significant group x time interaction (p < 0.001) for RPPT: the TENS group exhibited a greater increase compared with the control group; however, between-group differences were small at 1 minute (0.3 kg/cm2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1 to 0.4) and at 5 minutes (0.6 kg/cm2; 95% CI 0.3 to 0.8) after treatment. A significant group x time interaction (p = 0.01) was also found for cervical rotation in favor of the TENS group. Between-group differences were also small at 1 minute (2.0 degrees; 95% CI 1.0 to 2.8) and at 5 minutes (2.7 degrees; 95% CI 1.7 to 3.8) after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A 10-minute application of burst-type TENS increases in a small but statistically significant manner the RPPT over upper trapezius latent MTrPs and the ipsilateral cervical range of motion.

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