Effect of Mesotherapy Combined with Exercise Therapy on Pain and Neck Disability in Patients with Chronic Myofascial Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
| Author | Razieh Maghroori | en |
| Author | Atiyeh Mohsenpour | en |
| Author | Saeid Khosravi | en |
| Orcid | Razieh Maghroori [0000-0001-5616-6569] | en |
| Orcid | Atiyeh Mohsenpour [0009-0004-2554-0756] | en |
| Orcid | Saeid Khosravi [0000-0002-7618-3689] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-07-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Chronic myofascial neck pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder associated with pain, functional impairment, and reduced quality of life. Although exercise therapy is a cornerstone of management, some patients continue to experience persistent disability. Mesotherapy has emerged as a minimally invasive adjunctive treatment for musculoskeletal pain; however, evidence of its effectiveness in chronic myofascial neck pain remains limited. Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of mesotherapy combined with exercise therapy in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain. Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled trial included 56 patients with chronic myofascial neck pain who were randomly assigned to a mesotherapy plus exercise therapy group or an exercise therapy alone group (28 participants per group). The mesotherapy protocol consisted of subcutaneous injections of 1 mL of 2% lidocaine and 1 mL of piroxicam (40 mg), administered twice weekly for 2 consecutive weeks at 10 trigger point-related sites in the cervical paraspinal and upper trapezius muscles. Both groups received the same standardized exercise program and oral medications. Pain intensity and neck-related disability were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) at baseline and at the 1- and 4-month follow-up visits. Results: All 56 participants completed the study and follow-up. Baseline NDI scores were comparable between the two groups. In the mesotherapy group, NDI scores decreased over time, from 42.50 ± 18.35 at baseline to 33.54 ± 17.78 at 1 month and 32.38 ± 17.90 at 4 months, indicating an improvement in neck-related disability. In contrast, NDI scores increased in the control group, from 43.69 ± 18.78 at baseline to 52.79 ± 19.16 at 1 month and 58.82 ± 17.90 at 4 months, indicating worsening disability. The between-group difference in longitudinal NDI changes was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Mesotherapy combined with exercise therapy may provide greater improvement in neck-related functional disability than exercise therapy alone in patients with chronic myofascial neck pain. However, the worsening of NDI scores observed in the control group should be considered when interpreting the magnitude of the between-group treatment effect. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/mejrh-173490 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/mejrh/articles/173490 | en |
| Keyword | Mesotherapy | en |
| Keyword | Chronic Neck Pain | en |
| Keyword | Myofascial Pain Syndrome | en |
| Keyword | Trigger Points | en |
| Keyword | Neck Disability Index | en |
| Keyword | Rehabilitation | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Effect of Mesotherapy Combined with Exercise Therapy on Pain and Neck Disability in Patients with Chronic Myofascial Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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