Investigation of trigger points by algometer

The Purpose of The Study: Was to apply algometry to 29 trigger points during a study to prevent back pain in teachers. Materials and Methods: The initial phase of our study involved 91 teachers from three schools in Sofia. In an effort of the assessment of the pain we used an handheld Algometer ALGO-AN in 65 teachers, 58 (89.2%) femaleand 7 (10.8%) male. The average age was 49.91 years (from 24 to 70 years). Results from a total of 58 points on the left and on the right were collected and statistically processed in April - May 2019. Data were descriptively analyzed with SPSS 25 (mean ± standard deviation). Results: Analysis of the average values and variability of points with normal distribution showed that the majority of subjects with a response were at points 21, 22, 23 and 25 (left and right). The point of greatest response was 23. Points where the normal distribution was unilateral were: 4, 8, 25 and 29. We noted that for the points with more pronounced negatively skewed uniform distribution, the values of the median differed significantly from the values of the arithmetic mean (points 7 right, 10, 15, 16, 17, 25 right, 29 right). This confirmed the fact that the accumulation of values has shifted to smaller results and at these points subsjects had a more pronounced sense of pain. Point without reaction was 5. The unilateral response was measured in the following points:1, 6, 20, 26. Discussion: In the prevention of back pain, it is important to identify effective ways of accurate examination in a timely manner before the subjects become patients. In order to improve the diagnostic, we must look beyond the clinical tests to also additional methods and data to manage the prevention of the back pain. In this aspect, we can conclude that algometry is a method that is applicable in outpatient settings and workplaces.Our resultsdemonstrated that the majority of teachers were with a `presence of low back pain with high threshold and moderate levels of intensity, which is indicative of the initial stage. Conclusion: Back pain was a significant complain affecting the teachers. In the preventive study of back pain in teachers algometry has shown its diagnostic effectiveness with respect to intensity and localization of pain.