The Use of Skin Resistance Point Finder for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points

피부 저항점 탐지기를 사용한 근근막 통증 유발점의 진단

Background: At present, there is no reliable objective test for the diagnosis of myofascial trigger points (MFTP). We evaluated the usefulness of skin resistance point finder for the diagnosis of MFTP. Methods: 40 subjects with clinical MFTPs at the upper trapezius muscle were included in this study. Using skin resistance point finder (UNIQUE S-2010$^{(R)}$, Seik medical, Korea), we tried to find out the point of low skin resistance. At three different current level, sensitivity and specificity of this method for the diagnosis of clinically identified MFTP was evaluated. Pressure threshold for pain of low skin resistance point was measured using Pressure Threshold Meter$^{(R)}$ (Pain Diagnostics and Thermography, U.S.A.). 3 groups of point detected at different current were compared in mean pressure threshold. Results: Fixed single current of skin resistance point finder showed variable sensitivity and specificity. But, by adjusting current level, skin resistance point finder detected all of 40 clinically identified MFTPs. Although it is partially statistically significant, the mean pressure threshold of points detected at high current was high. Conclusion: Skin resistance finder can be used as objective diagnostic tool of MFTPs. There is possibility that it can be useful in evaluating treatment effect. However, more investigation is necessary.