Comparison of two repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation protocols for upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome: A randomized trial
Thitirut Jongutchariya, Surapa Hangsaphruek, Thawisak Wongkiratimethawi, Jittima Saengsuwan
Abstract
Upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a common contributor to chronic neck pain and functional limitations. Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) has emerged as a non-invasive neuromodulatory intervention; however, the optimal stimulation duration remains uncertain.
Introduction
Neck pain is one of the leading causes of years lived with disability (YLDs) worldwide, with Global Burden of Disease analyses projecting continued escalation through 2050 due to population ageing and modifiable risk exposure [1–3].
Materials and methods
This single-centre, single-assessor–blinded randomized trial was conducted at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hatyai Hospital, a tertiary care center in Songkhla, Thailand.
Results
A total of 83 individuals were screened for eligibility, of whom 17 were excluded (10 were unable to complete consecutive treatment sessions, 3 had neck pain duration < 3 months, 3 had baseline VAS scores < 4, and 1 had prior cervical spine surgery with instrumentation).
Discussion
This randomized trial evaluated whether extending rPMS session duration from 10 to 15 minutes improves clinical outcomes in individuals with upper trapezius MPS. LMMs demonstrated significant time effects for VAS, PPT, and NDI (all p < 0.001), indicating significant improvements across the 4-week intervention period.
Conclusion
Both treatment durations were associated with significant short-term improvements in pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, and neck-related disability in individuals with upper trapezius MPS.
Citation: Jongutchariya T, Hangsaphruek S, Wongkiratimethawi T, Saengsuwan J (2026) Comparison of two repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation protocols for upper trapezius myofascial pain syndrome: A randomized trial. PLoS One 21(10): e0360355. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360355
Editor: Mohammad Sidiq, TIU: Tishk International University, IRAQ
Received: April 13, 2026; Accepted: August 26, 2026; Published: October 8, 2026
Copyright: © 2026 Jongutchariya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: All relevant data underlying the results reported in this study are publicly available in the Open Science Framework (OSF) repository (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/87P5W).
Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Source: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0360355#sec038
