Myofascial Trigger Points: Does Recent Research Gives New Insights into the Pathophysiology?

Cummings, Mike

doi:10.1136/aim.2009.001289

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…On the basis of the above analysis, the present study not only simulated chronic muscle pain to verify the results reported by Ge et al 14 in an active MTrS animal model, but also provided strong anatomical evidence to support the viewpoint of Cummings, 20 who proposed that MTrPs are either closer to Iα afferent fibres or are associated with more sensitive or responsive Iα afferent fibres or muscle spindles than non-MTrP areas in muscle. We also regard that many aspects may be attributed to the intensified MSA impulses in the involved motor neuron pool, such as muscle stiffness, movement coordination, poor spontaneous twitch response of local muscle, and increased muscle activity during chronic musculoskeletal pain symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Relationship between muscle spindles and myofascial trigger spots according to Hoffmann reflex pathway and tissue morphology characteristics in a rat model

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: To determine how muscle spindles are involved in the pathophysiology of chronic myofascial trigger spots (MTrSs, similar to myofascial trigger points) in a rat injury model according to the characteristics of the Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) and the anatomical relationship between muscle spindles and MTrSs. Methods: 16 male Sprague-Dawley rats (7 weeks old) were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. A blunt strike injury and eccentric exercise were applied to the gastrocnemius muscle of rats in the experimental group once a week for 8 weeks as a MTrS modelling intervention. Subsequently, the rats were reared normally and rested for 4 weeks. At the end of the 12th week, the rats were examined for the presence of MTrSs defined by the detection of a palpable taut band exhibiting both a local twitch response and spontaneous electrical activity. After modelling, evocation of the H-reflex and morphological examination of muscle spindles and MTrSs were conducted. Results: The threshold (0.35±0.04 mA) of the H-reflex and latency (1.24±0.18 ms) of the M wave recorded at MTrSs were not significantly different to those at non-MTrSs (P>0.05). Compared with non-MTrSs, a lower Mmax (4.28±1.27 mV), higher Hmax (median (IQR) 0.95 (0.80–1.08) mV) and Hmax/Mmax (median (IQR) 0.21 (0.16–0.40)), and shorter H wave latency (4.60±0.89 ms) were recorded at MTrSs (P<0.05). Morphologically, there was a close anatomical relationship between the MTrS cells and the muscle spindles. Discussion: Compared with normal muscles, the H-reflex myoelectrical activity was enhanced and some muscle spindles might have been influenced by active MTrSs. Thus, muscle spindles may play an important role in the pathological mechanism underlying myofascial trigger points.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Relationship between muscle spindles and myofascial trigger spots according to Hoffmann reflex pathway and tissue morphology characteristics in a rat model

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is believed that this involuntary focal muscle fiber contraction and/or muscle cramps within taut muscle band contributes significantly to muscle tension and to the formation of taut band associated with MTP [24,43]. Additional contributions to the formation of taut band may come from muscle spindle afferents giving afferent signals to the extrafusal motor unit through the H-reflex pathway [33,55,56] and from the sympathetic facilitation to the SEA [57] and to MTP sensitivity [58]. Sympathetic neurotransmitter noradrenaline not only strengthens muscle tone by boosting endogenous glutamate-mediated excitation, but also transforms sub-threshold glutamatergic activity into a robust excitatory drive capable of triggering motoneurone activity [59].…”

Section: Muscle Taut Bandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myofascial trigger points: spontaneous electrical activity and its consequences for pain induction and propagation

Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas

Yue

2011

Chin Med

108

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Active myofascial trigger points are one of the major peripheral pain generators for regional and generalized musculoskeletal pain conditions. Myofascial trigger points are also the targets for acupuncture and/or dry needling therapies. Recent evidence in the understanding of the pathophysiology of myofascial trigger points supports The Integrated Hypothesis for the trigger point formation; however unanswered questions remain. Current evidence shows that spontaneous electrical activity at myofascial trigger point originates from the extrafusal motor endplate. The spontaneous electrical activity represents focal muscle fiber contraction and/or muscle cramp potentials depending on trigger point sensitivity. Local pain and tenderness at myofascial trigger points are largely due to nociceptor sensitization with a lesser contribution from non-nociceptor sensitization. Nociceptor and non-nociceptor sensitization at myofascial trigger points may be part of the process of muscle ischemia associated with sustained focal muscle contraction and/or muscle cramps. Referred pain is dependent on the sensitivity of myofascial trigger points. Active myofascial trigger points may play an important role in the transition from localized pain to generalized pain conditions via the enhanced central sensitization, decreased descending inhibition and dysfunctional motor control strategy.

show abstract

Akupunktur bei Patienten mit chronischen Schmerzerkrankungen und Allergien - Übersicht zur aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Evidenz

Brinkhaus¹,

Ortiz

Dietzel

et al. 2020

Chinese Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Myofascial Trigger Points: Does Recent Research Gives New Insights into the Pathophysiology?

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

Relationship between muscle spindles and myofascial trigger spots according to Hoffmann reflex pathway and tissue morphology characteristics in a rat model

Relationship between muscle spindles and myofascial trigger spots according to Hoffmann reflex pathway and tissue morphology characteristics in a rat model

Myofascial trigger points: spontaneous electrical activity and its consequences for pain induction and propagation

Akupunktur bei Patienten mit chronischen Schmerzerkrankungen und Allergien - Übersicht zur aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Evidenz

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About