ArticlePloS one2022
Scoping review and interpretation of myofascial pain/fibromyalgia syndrome: An attempt to assemble a medical puzzle.
Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 20 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- Acupuncture for postoperative rehabilitation in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases: mechanisms and clinical evidence.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Review
- A systematic scoping review and conceptual analysis of new-onset fibromyalgia manifestations after non-hospitalized COVID-19: empirics, definitions, methodologies, pathophysiology, mapping of literature, and knowledge gaps.Journal of translational medicine · 2026Article
- Factors affecting veterinary perception of the prevalence of back pain and dysfunction in dogs and horses.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Proportion of Myofascial Pain Syndrome Among Patients with Diagnosed or Suspected Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Toward visualized pathophenotyping: a multimodal imaging-guided conceptual framework for chronic low back pain.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- Disrupted Biotensegrity in the Fiber Cellular Fascial Network and Neuroma Microenvironment: A Conceptual Framework for "Phantom Limb Pain".International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Correction: Scoping review and interpretation of myofascial pain/fibromyalgia syndrome: An attempt to assemble a medical puzzle.PloS one · 2025Article
- Fibroblasts as key cellular targets in acupuncture therapy: a mechanistic perspective.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025Review
- Bio-tensegrity and extracellular matrix disruption in the pathogenesis of persistent post-operative pain: a hypothesis.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
- Effects of Acupotomy on Immobilization-Induced Gastrocnemius Contracture and Fibrosis in Rats via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling.Chinese journal of integrative medicine · 2024Article
- Comparative efficacy of neuromodulation and structured exercise program on pain and muscle oxygenation in fibromyalgia patients: a randomized crossover study.Frontiers in physiology · 2024Article
- Advancing musculoskeletal diagnosis and therapy: a comprehensive review of trigger point theory and muscle pain patterns.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
- Effect of Adding Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive Therapy to Conventional Therapy for Patients With Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Upper Trapezius: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2023Article
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Nociceptive Condition Comorbid with Neuropathic or Nociplastic Pain.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- "Long COVID-19" and viral "fibromyalgia-ness": Suggesting a mechanistic role for fascial myofibroblasts (Nineveh, the shadow is in the fascia).Frontiers in medicine · 2023Article
- Global Status and Future Trends of Fascia and Pain Research in 2013-2022: Bibliometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer.Journal of pain research · 2023Article
- Efficacy of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling in Treating Soft Tissue Pain of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Fascial Manipulation Method Is Effective in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain, but the Treatment Protocol Matters: A Randomised Control Trial-Preliminary Report.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Article
- Fascial Nomenclature: Update 2022.Cureus · 2022Review
- Suggesting a mechanism for acupuncture as a global percutaneous needle fasciotomy that respects tensegrity principles for treating fibromyalgia.Frontiers in medicine · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMyofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a common, overlooked, and underdiagnosed condition and has significant burden. MPS is often dismissed by clinicians while patients remain in pain for years. MPS can evolve into fibromyalgia, however, effective treatments for both are lacking due to absence of a clear mechanism. Many studies focus on central sensitization. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to systematically search cross-disciplinary empirical studies of MPS, focusing on mechanical aspects, and suggest an organic mechanism explaining how it might evolve into fibromyalgia. Hopefully, it will advance our understanding of this disease.
methodsSystematically searched multiple phrases in MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, PEDro, and medRxiv, majority with no time limit. Inclusion/exclusion based on title and abstract, then full text inspection. Additional literature added on relevant side topics. Review follows PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PROSPERO yet to adapt registration for scoping reviews.
findings799 records included. Fascia can adapt to various states by reversibly changing biomechanical and physical properties. Trigger points, tension, and pain are a hallmark of MPS. Myofibroblasts play a role in sustained myofascial tension. Tension can propagate in fascia, possibly supporting a tensegrity framework. Movement and mechanical interventions treat and prevent MPS, while living sedentarily predisposes to MPS and recurrence.
conclusionsMPS can be seen as a pathological state of imbalance in a natural process; manifesting from the inherent properties of the fascia, triggered by a disrupted biomechanical interplay. MPS might evolve into fibromyalgia through deranged myofibroblasts in connective tissue ("fascial armoring"). Movement is an underemployed requisite in modern lifestyle. Lifestyle is linked to pain and suffering. The mechanism of needling is suggested to be more mechanical than currently thought. A "global percutaneous needle fasciotomy" that respects tensegrity principles may treat MPS/fibromyalgia more effectively. "Functional-somatic syndromes" can be seen as one entity (myofibroblast-generated-tensegrity-tension), sharing a common rheuma-psycho-neurological mechanism.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.