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
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