Objective: The authors aimed to study the efficacy of an 8-hour hands-on workshop on myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in the head, neck and shoulder areas by the physiatrists.
Material and Method: This before-after cohort study enrolled licensed physicians. Twenty physicians participated in the workshop. The control group enrolled 20 other physicians in a 1: 1 ratio with the workshop group. The workshop involved a lecture about MPS, hands-on trigger point palpation and dry needling by an experienced physiatrist. Before and after the 8-hour workshop, participants did a case record form. It consisted of baseline characteristics, 15 MPS-related questions, and the physicians’ confidence scale.
Results: The score on the 15 questions concerning MPS increased by 4.8+2.86 in the workshop group and by 0.45+1.57 in the control group (p<0.001). The scores on the diagnostic and physical examination questions in the workshop group significantly increased (p<0.001) while the treatment question score slightly increased (p = 0.19). The confidence scores on MPS diagnosis, physical examination, treatment and dry needling significantly increased in the workshop group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: In the present study, the 8-hour hands-on workshop consisting of an overview of the MPS lecture, trigger point palpation and dry needling helped to improve related knowledge and skills. The participating physicians had higher confidence in diagnosis and treatment of MPS. This 8-hour hands-on workshop model might be developed into a short training course for medical students and general practice physicians.

Keywords: Myofascial pain syndrome, Trigger point, Dry needling