Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40110636›Full record

ReviewMuscle & nerve2025

Myofascial Pain Syndrome: An Update on Clinical Characteristics, Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

Jeremy P Steen, Kishore S Jaiswal, Dinesh Kumbhare

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Muscle & nerve, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
46citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

46 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  9. MRI-defined lumbar fasciitis is associated with inferior subjective outcomes after endoscopic decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis.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 · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Jeremy P SteenInstitute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6697-9069
Kishore S JaiswalKITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9257-1235
Dinesh KumbhareInstitute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3889-7557

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a chronic regional pain condition characterized by trigger points-hyperirritable spots within taut bands of muscle fibers that cause both localized and referred pain. The pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, and classification of MPS are still under investigation, which complicates the development of standardized treatment protocols. Although diagnostic tools have improved, MPS often remains underrecognized due to symptom overlap with other pain disorders, such as fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and joint disorders. Factors contributing to its onset and persistence include muscle overuse, postural imbalance, systemic conditions, and psychological and behavioral influences. This narrative review explores the primary risk factors, current hypotheses on pathogenesis, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and both conventional and emerging treatments. Sufficient evidence supports the use of local anesthetic injections for MPS. Some evidence suggests that dry needling, acupuncture, magnetic stimulation, ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and manual therapy may be effective, particularly compared to sham or placebo. However, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac, botulinum toxin, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation show insufficient evidence, while the effectiveness of muscle relaxants, antidepressants, gabapentin, opioids, topical lidocaine, capsaicin, EMLA cream, and kinesio taping remains inconclusive. Effective management of MPS requires a patient-centered approach that integrates empirically supported and evidence-based treatments tailored to individual needs. This review synthesizes the current understanding of MPS and highlights the need for high-quality research to improve clinical decision-making in managing this complex condition.

Indexed as

Myofascial Pain SyndromesPain ManagementHumansdiagnosisepidemiologyetiologymyofascial pain syndrometherapy

Identifiers

PMID40110636
PMCPMC11998975

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.