Likely Explanations for Clinical Features of Myofascial Trigger Points

TABLE 5. Likely Explanations for Clinical Features of Myofascial Trigger Points

Clinical Features Likely Explanation

  • Palpable Band Continuous abnormal release of calcium from sarcoplasmic reticulum
  • Spot Tenderness Sensitization of nociceptors in the vicinity of the motor endplate
  • Jump Sign Severity of spot (trigger point) tenderness
  • Pain Recognition Digital pressure is aggravating trigger points that are responsible for patient's pain
  • Twitch Response A spinal reflex activation of motor units whose endplates have developed active loci and/or a mechanically elicited axon reflex of those same motor units
  • Referred Pain and Excitation of 'sleeping' nociceptors
  • Tenderness input from TrP (Refs: 78, 79)
  • Restricted Range Increased release of acetylcholine of Motion in neuromuscular junctions of active loci due to mechanical stress with related release of sensitizing substances locally
  • Muscle Weakness Reflex inhibition of involved muscle

Next: Diagnostic and Clinical features of Myofascial Trigger Points

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