ArticleFrontiers in medicine2024
Advancing musculoskeletal diagnosis and therapy: a comprehensive review of trigger point theory and muscle pain patterns.
Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy combined with conventional physical therapy for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Pooled it
- The stress-fascia-pain axis in myofascial pain syndrome: a mechanistic integrative review and conceptual synthesis.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026Pooled it
- Effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided needle-knife therapy for patients with spinal pain disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Comparison of Outcomes From Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Combined With Physical Therapy Versus Infrared Therapy Combined With Physical Therapy Among Patients With Myofascial Low Back Pain.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Trial
- Validity, Reliability, and Responsiveness of a New Device for Measuring Pressure Pain Thresholds.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Comparative Effectiveness of Massage Gun and Myofascial Release Technique for Releasing Latent Trigger Points of Calf Muscle: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Effects of dry needling compared to magnesium infiltration in trigger points for patients with myofascial pain syndrome: a randomized controlled study in Tunisia.Korean journal of family medicine · 2026Article
- Global Burden and Forecasting of Musculoskeletal Disability Attributable to High BMI, 1990-2040: A GBD 2021 and Mendelian Randomization Study.Journal of pain research · 2026Article
- Reframing myofascial pain syndrome: pathological disorder or adaptive protective response?Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · 2026Review
- Which Myofascial Alterations Contribute to Functional Limitations and Perceived Performance Deficits in Water Polo Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapy · 2026Article
- Shoulder kinematic and muscle recruitment pattern changes in upper trapezius myofascial trigger points: a controlled observational study.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Observational
- The Role of Myofascial Release Techniques as an Adjunct to Other Therapies in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.Health science reports · 2025Review
- Determining Pain Pressure Thresholds and Muscle Stiffness Cut-Offs to Discriminate Latent Myofascial Trigger Points and Asymptomatic Infraspinatus Muscle Locations: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Comparing Multiple Versus Sustained Insertion Dry Needling Therapy for Myofascial Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Annals of rehabilitation medicine · 2025Article
- Dry Needling for Tension-Type Headache: A Scoping Review on Intervention Procedures, Muscle Targets, and Outcomes.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to temporomandibular disorder chronic pain: a narrative review.Pain management · 2025Review
- Effect of dry needling, ischemic compression and cross-taping of the masseter in patients with orofacial myofascial pain: a randomized comparative study.Frontiers in oral health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders, especially chronic muscle pain, have a significant impact on public health, affecting millions worldwide. This review examines recent advancements in the diagnosis and management of myofascial pain, with a focus on the refined application of trigger point theory. This theory now incorporates an intricate model that blends biomechanical and neurophysiological mechanisms, essential for understanding the initiation and persistence of pain, and necessitating targeted therapeutic interventions. Utilizing a methodical approach, this paper categorizes muscle pain into three types: Muscle Belly Pain, Origin-Insertion Pain, and Referred Pain, as delineated in the most recent edition of "Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction-The Trigger Point Manual." Such classification enhances diagnostic precision and therapeutic effectiveness by establishing a specific treatment protocol for each type of pain. The paper discusses the implications of various treatments, such as dry needling and manual therapy, which are informed by empirically derived trigger point charts. These charts are instrumental in pinpointing the exact locations of pain sources and customizing treatment plans. Moreover, this review critically assesses the evolving nature of trigger point charts and champions a holistic approach to pain management. It underscores the necessity of integrating biomechanics, kinesiology, and compensatory mechanisms to provide a comprehensive understanding that allows practitioners to address not only symptomatic pain but also the root causes of musculoskeletal disorders, thereby enhancing long-term patient care outcomes in clinical environments.
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