scholarly journals Mechanisms of Myofascial Pain

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Saleet Jafri

Myofascial pain syndrome is an important health problem. It affects a majority of the general population, impairs mobility, causes pain, and reduces the overall sense of well-being. Underlying this syndrome is the existence of painful taut bands of muscle that contain discrete, hypersensitive foci called myofascial trigger points. In spite of the significant impact on public health, a clear mechanistic understanding of the disorder does not exist. This is likely due to the complex nature of the disorder which involves the integration of cellular signaling, excitation-contraction coupling, neuromuscular inputs, local circulation, and energy metabolism. The difficulties are further exacerbated by the lack of an animal model for myofascial pain to test mechanistic hypothesis. In this review, current theories for myofascial pain are presented and their relative strengths and weaknesses are discussed. Based on new findings linking mechanoactivation of reactive oxygen species signaling to destabilized calcium signaling, we put forth a novel mechanistic hypothesis for the initiation and maintenance of myofascial trigger points. It is hoped that this lays a new foundation for understanding myofascial pain syndrome and how current therapies work, and gives key insights that will lead to the improvement of therapies for its treatment.

1992 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-25
Author(s):  
Shelley Pullen

Myofascial pain syndrome is pain and/or autonomic phenomena referred from active myofascial trigger points with associated dysfunction.It has been said to affect human well-being and productivity even to the extent of driving some people to suicide.A literature review of myofascial pain is presented. An interesting historical view of muscular pain is discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocío Melero-Suárez ◽  
José Antonio Sánchez-Santos ◽  
Gabriel Domínguez-Maldonado

Background: Closely related pathologic disorders sometimes manifest with the same symptoms, making for a complex differential diagnosis. This is the situation in plantar fasciitis (PF) and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) with myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in the sole of the foot. This research assessed the analgesic effect on plantar pain of combination therapy with interferential current stimulation therapy (ICST), treating MTPs in the great toe adductor muscle and the short flexor muscles of the toes in patients whose diagnosis was compatible with PF or MPS. Methods: This study included 22 feet of 17 patients with a diagnosis compatible with PF or MPS with MTP. Participants received combination therapy with ICST for 15 sessions, and the decrease in pain was measured with an algometer and the visual analog scale. Both measurements were taken before and after every fifth session. The pressure pain threshold (PPT) results obtained with the Student t test and the pain intensity perception (PIP) results obtained with the Wilcoxon signed rank test were analyzed by comparing the measurements taken before the treatment and after the fifth, tenth, and 15th sessions. Results: The decrease in PIP was significant after the fifth, tenth, and 15th sessions (P < .001). The increase in PPT was also significant after the fifth (P = .010), tenth (P = .023), and 15th (P = .001) sessions (P < .05). Conclusions: The suggested combination therapy of ultrasound with ICST is clinically significant for reducing plantar pain after 15 treatment sessions, with a 6.5-point reduction in mean PIP and a 4.6-point increase in PPT.


2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 81-88
Author(s):  
F I Devlikamova

Aim. The “PARUS” program included investigation of the analgesic, muscle relaxant and sedative effects of Mydocalm-Richter which acts as central muscle relaxant in patients with myofascial pain syndrome, taking into account its registered indication for use - the hypertonus and cross-striated muscle spasm. Materials and methods. Fifty patients with myofascial trigger points, the mean age of 41.67±11.86 years, have been enrolled in the study. All patients had undergone clinical examination that allowed the diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome. The intensity of pain syndrome was evaluated using the pain visual analogue scales and McGill pain questionnaire. Visualization of area in spasm and evaluation of blood circulation was carried out using the ultrasound scan of target muscle. In order to objectively evaluate any conceivable hypotensive and sedative effects of Mydocalm-Richter we used the orthostatic test, Schulte’s test for attention span and perfor-mance distribution and Munsterberg’s test for attention discrimination and concentration. Results. The analgesic and muscle relaxant effects of Mydocalm-Richter become apparent by day 3 post-injection, and the muscle relaxation effect is reaching its maximum on day 10 post-injection. Cardiovascular function following administration of Mydocalm-Richter was evaluated using the orthostatic test which revealed good orthostatic tolerance. Single injection of tolperisone hydrochloride possessing a central muscle relaxant activity has no sedative effect and does not influence patient response time. The ultrasound examination data demonstrated the improvement and in some cases restoration of blood circulation in the myofascial trigger points. Conclusion. Clinical study “PARUS” conducted in patients with myofascial pain has demonstrated a positive muscle relaxant and analgesic effect of Mydocalm-Richter that resulted in restoration of peripheral circulation in the myofascial trigger pointsconfirmed by ultrasound examination. An important benefit of this drug product is the absence of sedative effect and arterial hypotension.


2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marlon Thoresson

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of a home programme of ischaemie compression, sustained stretch and a combination of the two, in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings for the treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Wei Chou ◽  
Mu-Jung Kao ◽  
Jaung-Geng Lin

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) has been defined as a regional pain syndrome characterized by muscle pain caused by myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) clinically. MTrP is defined as the hyperirritable spot in a palpable taut band of skeletal muscle fibers. Appropriate treatment to MTrPs can effectively relieve the clinical pain of MPS. Needling therapies, such as MTrP injection, dry needling, or acupuncture (AcP) can effectively eliminate pain immediately. AcP is probably the first reported technique in treating MPS patients with dry needling based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. The possible mechanism of AcP analgesia were studied and published in recent decades. The analgesic effect of AcP is hypothesized to be related to immune, hormonal, and nervous systems. Compared to slow-acting hormonal system, nervous system acts in a faster manner. Given these complexities, AcP analgesia cannot be explained by any single mechanism. There are several principles for selection of acupoints based on the TCM principles: “Ah-Shi” point, proximal or remote acupoints on the meridian, and extra-meridian acupoints. Correlations between acupoints and MTrPs are discussed. Some clinical and animal studies of remote AcP for MTrPs and the possible mechanisms of remote effectiveness are reviewed and discussed.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 2039-2050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orlando Mayoral del Moral ◽  
María Torres Lacomba ◽  
I Jon Russell ◽  
Óscar Sánchez Méndez ◽  
Beatriz Sánchez Sánchez

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Ting Wu ◽  
Chang-Zern Hong ◽  
Li-Wei Chou

Many people continue suffering from myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) defined as a regional pain syndrome characterized by muscle pain caused by myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) clinically. Muscle spasm and block of blood circulation can be noticed in the taut bands. In the MTrP region, nociceptors can be sensitized by the peripheral inflammatory factors and contracture of fascia can also be induced. Traditional treatments of MPS include stretching therapy, thermal treatment, electrical stimulation, massage, manipulation, trigger points injection, acupuncture, and medicine. However, the pain syndrome may not be relieved even under multiple therapies. Recently, the Kinesio Taping (KT) method is popularly used in sports injuries, postoperative complications, and various pain problems, but little research is focused on MPS with KT method. In this paper, we review the research studies on the application to KT in treating MPS and other related issues. It appears that the KT application can elevate the subcutaneous space and then increase the blood circulation and lymph fluid drainage to reduce the chemical factors around the MTrP region. Therefore, it is suggested that KT method can be used as a regular treatment or added to the previous treatment for myofascial pain.


Author(s):  
Naseem A. Qureshi ◽  
Hamoud A. Alsubaie ◽  
Gazzaffi I. M. Ali

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome is a common multifactorial condition that presents with key manifestations and comorbid with many systemic diseases and regional pain syndromes. Objective: This study aims to concisely review clinical, diagnostic and integrative therapeutic aspects of myofascial pain syndrome. Methods: E-searches (2000-2019) using keywords and Boolean operators were made and using exclusion and inclusion criteria, 50 full articles that focused on myofascial pain syndrome were retained for this review. Results: Myofascial pain syndrome is a multidimensional musculoskeletal disorder with ill-understood etiopathogenesis and pathophysiology and characterized by tender taut muscle with myofascial trigger points, muscle twitch response, specific pattern of referred pain and autonomic symptoms. A variety of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies with variable efficacy are used in myofascial pain syndrome, the latter modalities such as education, stretching and exercises, moist hot and cold packs, dry needling and myofascial massage or myofascial trigger point massage are used as first line options. Conclusion: Myofascial pain syndrome and trigger points initiated by repeated strains and injuries co-occur with diverse physical diseases and regional pain syndromes, which need comprehensive diagnostic evaluation using multiple methods. Several interventions are used in patients with myofascial pain syndrome who effectively respond to myofascial massage. This study calls for exploring etiopathogenesis and basic pathophysiological mechanisms underlying myofascial pain syndrome in future.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document