Objective To explore the value of shear wave velocity (SWV) in improving the therapeutic effect of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients. Methods Eighty patients with MPS admitted to our hospital were enrolled and defined as MPS group. Eighty healthy volunteers were enrolled as control group. The pain degree was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), values of pain rating index (PRI), and present pain intensity (PPI). The rectus muscle tissue elasticity was observed using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and their SWV values were recorded. Patients with MPS received 6 courses of conventional treatment. Then Patients with effective effects and above were grouped according to the patient''s voluntary principle. Patients who continued to be treated using SWV as a therapeutic indicator were defined as a treatment group. Patients who stop treatment were defined as a cessation treatment group. All patients underwent a one-year follow-up. The difference in recurrence rate between the continuing treatment group and the cessation treatment group was compared. Results The VAS value and SWV value of the patients showed a downward trend during the treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (FVAS=3.649, PVAS=0.000; FVAS=2.631, PVAS=0.018). The overall efficiency of MPS patients was 78.8%. The VAS, PRI and PPI of patients with MPS after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The mean SWV (2.63±1.09 m/) after treatment in the MPS group was significantly lower than that before treatment (4.35±1.56 m/s), and the difference was statistically significant (t=8.084, P=0.000). The cumulative recurrence-free rate in the continuing treatment group (93.33%) was significantly higher than that in the cessation treatment group (61.29%), and the Logrank test was statistically significant (X2=8.760, P=0.003). Conclusion The SWV value of ARFI can objectively reflect the severity of the disease in patients with MPS. It may be possible to obtain better results by using SWV as the criterion for efficacy.