Participants with Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) of the neck were randomly assigned into 2 groups of the double-blinded study: topical cetylated fatty ester complex (CFEC) cream application plus physical therapy (CF-PT; n=37), and placebo cream application plus physical therapy (PL-PT; n=35). There were 3 visits during 4 weeks of treatment. Physical Therapy (PT), given twice/week, included Ischaemic Compression, Deep Pressure Trigger Point Massage and Myofascial Releases. Topical cream [CFEC cream (5.6%) and 1.5% menthol] or placebo cream [1.5% menthol, in a cream base] was applied twice/day. CF-PT provided the fastest and most effective study treatment modality. The addition of CFEC cream to PT resulted in statistically significant improvements, compared to PL-PT, for reduction of pain, neck disability and life quality indicators. Our results indicate that cetylated derivatives of fatty acids can effectively reduce pain and symptoms associated with neck MPS, when combined with physical therapy.
Facial Neuralgia/drug therapy , Fatty Acids/chemistry , Neck Pain/rehabilitation , Physical Therapy Modalities , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Double-Blind Method , Facial Neuralgia/pathology , Facial Neuralgia/therapy , Female , Health Status Indicators , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain Measurement , Range of Motion, Articular , Statistics, Nonparametric , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
