Clemente, AnaBonança, DanielaRamos, GonçaloDuarte, SusanaRobalo, Lina2015-06-042015-06-042012-09Clemente, A., Bonança, D., Ramos, G., Duarte, S. & Robalo, L.(2012). Efectividade da Compressão Isquémica Manual na Abordagem dos Trigger Points. Ifisionline, 3(1).http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/8868Background: The myofascial pain syndrome affects up to 85% of the population, having myofascial trigger points a central role in the pathophysiology of this phenomenon. With the widespread of the use of manual ischemic compression technique for the treatment of miofascial trigger points, it is relevant to evaluate its effectiveness, according to the available evidence. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of ischemic compression technique and its influence on the outcomes pain intensity and pressure pain threshold, in subjects with trigger points. Search Strategy: PubMed (MEDLINE), PEDro, The Cochrane Library and EBSCO (CINAHL Discuss and Sport). Methodology: The inclusion criteria were randomized control trials evaluating the effectiveness of ischemic compression technique in the treatment of trigger points, either alone or in comparison with other treatment techniques, published in english since 2004 and with PEDro Scores ≥ 5. Results: Five articles were selected for this review. Only three had both pain intensity and pressure pain threshold as outcome. The conclusions of the studies were based mainly on a comparison between baseline and final intra-group results, indicating a reduction in pain intensity and an increase in pressure pain threshold for isquemic compression technique. However, comparison techniques draw similar conclusions, with no statistically significant differences between the two. Conclusions: Available evidence is not enough to support the effectiveness of ischemic compression technique in the treatment of trigger points.porTrigger pointsmanual ischemic compression techniquemyofascial pain syndromesystematic reviewjournal article