Prevalence and Predictive Factors of Active Myofascial Trigger Points Among Office Workers Using to Visual Display...

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal Health
• Occupational Medicine
• Pain Management

Background:

• Office workers spending prolonged hours at visual display terminals (VDTs) are susceptible to musculoskeletal issues.
• Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are a common source of pain and dysfunction in this population.
• Understanding MTrP prevalence and contributing factors is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of active MTrPs in office workers with prolonged VDT use.
• To identify factors predicting MTrP activation in this demographic.
• To assess the association between disability indices and MTrP presence.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 305 municipal employees (aged 18-65) using VDTs for ≥4 hours daily.
• Assessment included the Neck Disability Index, Oswestry Disability Index, and standardized palpation/algometry for MTrPs by a specialized physiotherapist.
• Logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were used to identify predictors and evaluate model performance.

Main Results:

• Active MTrPs were prevalent, particularly in the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles, with higher rates in women.
• Neck and Oswestry Disability Index scores were significant predictors of MTrP activation (OR>1).
• Higher pressure pain thresholds demonstrated a protective effect (OR<1), with good model discriminative ability (AUC 0.74-0.88).

Conclusions:

• Active MTrPs are highly prevalent in office workers, especially women, with significant association to neck and back disability.
• Disability scores predict MTrP activation, while pressure pain thresholds indicate protective effects.
• Integrating algometry and targeted strengthening programs may mitigate myofascial pain and disability in sedentary workers.