Myofascial Trigger Points

Abstract

Myofascial pain syndromes are a widely recognized phenomenon among physicians and represent a common pain disorder in the American population. A myofascial trigger point is "a hyperirritable spot, usually within a taut band of skeletal muscle or in the muscle fascia. The spot is painful on compression and can give rise to characteristic referred pain, motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena" [1]. Many treatment strategies, both invasive and noninvasive, have been recognized for myofascial trigger points. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.