This systematic review aims to explore the impact of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) of the upper trapezius. The review included studies published between 2010 and 2022, which investigated the efficacy of ESWT in the treatment of MPS of the upper trapezius. The search strategy involved several electronic databases and the manual search of relevant journals. A total of 15 studies were included in the review. The studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The results of the review suggest that ESWT is a promising treatment option for MPS of the upper trapezius, with a significant reduction in pain and improvement in function reported in most studies. However, the quality of evidence is limited by the heterogeneity of the studies and the small sample sizes. Further research with larger sample sizes and more rigorous study designs is needed to establish the effectiveness of ESWT for MPS of the upper trapezius.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, myofascial pain syndrome, upper trapezius

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