OBJECTIVE To determine overall handgrip strength (HGS), we assessed the short-term change of HGS after trigger point injection (TPI) in women with muscular pain in the upper extremities by comparison with established pain scales. METHODS The study enrolled 50 female patients (FMS with MPS group: 29 patients with combined fibromyalgia [FMS] and myofascial pain syndrome [MPS]; MPS group: 21 pat...

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is described as the muscle, sensory, motor, and autonomic nervous system symptoms caused by stimulation of myofascial trigger points (MTP). The participation of fascia in this syndrome has often been neglected. Several manual and physical approaches have been proposed to improve myofascial function after traumatic injuries, but the processes that induce pathologic...

OBJECTIVES The study objectives were to evaluate outcomes in patients who have received dry needling treatments and to identify predictors of pain and disability. DESIGN The study was a prospective cohort follow-up design. SETTING The study was conducted at the Pain Clinic at Pingtung Christian Hospital, Taiwan. SUBJECTS Ninety-two (92) patients sick-listed for 3 months or longer for myof...

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the most common conditions of chronic musculoskeletal pain encountered by primary healthcare practitioners on a daily basis. It is generally accepted amongst the broad profile of healthcare practitioners treating MPS that the presence of discrete, palpable and tender nodules within the muscle, known as myofascial trigger points (MTrP), is necessary to co...

BACKGROUND Plantar heel pain (plantar fasciitis) is one of the most common musculoskeletal pathologies of the foot. Plantar heel pain can be managed with dry needling and/or injection of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) however the evidence for its effectiveness is uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the current evidence for the effectiveness of dry needling and/or injectio...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The efficacy of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) seems controversial. Our aim was to clarify the effect of LLLT in MPS by using algometry and thermography. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-two patients with MPS having an active trigger point in the neck or upper back region were randomly divided into two equal groups according ...

Myofascial pain syndromes (MPSs) from trigger points (TrPs) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are common musculoskeletal pain conditions that frequently coexist in the same patients. In recent decades, it has become evident that these entities greatly influence each other's clinical expression. FMS is mainly rooted in the central nervous system, while TrPs have a peripheral origin. However, the n...

Although Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is the most common diagnosis for injured workers [1], there is no uniform description or definition of MPS in the medical literature. Often the phrase myofascial pain is used to describe a variety of difficult to classify pain syndromes, resulting in confused and contradictory treatment approaches. Correct diagnosis and successful treatment of patients su...

Various structural abnormalities that contribute to the perpetuation of myofascial trigger point activity and the pain arising from it, have previously been well documented. In addition, however, there are a number of postural habits that are important to recognise as they may also contribute, as shown in the five cases discussed. These postural habits, which are likely to be carried out both f...