Within spinal pain , patients with neck pain were found to have the highest prevalence rates of MTrPs .
The trapezius descendens , levator scapulae , and suboccipitales muscles were the most prevalent locations for active MTrPs in patients with neck pain .
Latent MTrPs were present in asymptomatic people , but no significant differences were found in the prevalence rate of latent MTrPs between patients with spinal ( neck ) pain and healthy controls .
The only study investigating prevalence of MTrPs in different localizations of the same muscle reported no significant differences in prevalence between active and latent MTrPs within the trapezius descendens muscle .
Studies examining pathophysiological mechanisms underlying MTrPs demonstrated an acidic environment , high concentration of algogenic/inflammatory substances , stiffer muscle tissue , retro grade diastolic blood flows , spontaneous muscle activity at rest , and loss of muscle contractibility in muscles with MTrPs .
Altered central processing was also found to play a role in the development of MTrPs .
Myofascial trigger points are a prevalent clinical entity , especially in patients with neck pain .
Evidence was not found to support or deny the role of MTrPs in other spinal pain .
Compelling evidence supports local mechanisms underlying MTrPs .
OBJECTIVE A systematic review was performed to evaluate the existing evidence related to the prevalence , incidence , localization , and pathophysiology of myofascial trigger points ( MTrPs ) in patients with spinal ( back and neck ) pain .
Proximal myofascial dysfunction in complex regional pain syndrome: a retrospective prevalence study.
OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of clinical ly evident myofascial dysfunction ( MD ) and its relationship to motor neglect ( MN ) in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome ( CRPS ) . DESIGN Retrospective chart review . PATIENTS Forty-one consecutively evaluated CRPS patients . OUTCOME MEASURES ( a ) Prevalence of trigger points in the proximal musculature of the CRPS limb . ( b ) Prevalence of MN in a subset ( n = 34 ) . RESULTS MD was detected in 61 % of CRPS patients . It was more prevalent in the upper limb ( 70 % ) than in the lower limb ( 47 % ) . MN was more common in those who also had MD . CONCLUSION MD is common in CRPS patients , especially in the upper limb and in those patients with MN . Prospect i ve trials are needed to confirm these intriguing findings , which may have important implication s regarding CRPS pathophysiology and treatment
Within spinal pain , patients with neck pain were found to have the highest prevalence rates of MTrPs .
The trapezius descendens , levator scapulae , and suboccipitales muscles were the most prevalent locations for active MTrPs in patients with neck pain .
Latent MTrPs were present in asymptomatic people , but no significant differences were found in the prevalence rate of latent MTrPs between patients with spinal ( neck ) pain and healthy controls .
The only study investigating prevalence of MTrPs in different localizations of the same muscle reported no significant differences in prevalence between active and latent MTrPs within the trapezius descendens muscle .
Studies examining pathophysiological mechanisms underlying MTrPs demonstrated an acidic environment , high concentration of algogenic/inflammatory substances , stiffer muscle tissue , retro grade diastolic blood flows , spontaneous muscle activity at rest , and loss of muscle contractibility in muscles with MTrPs .
Altered central processing was also found to play a role in the development of MTrPs .
Myofascial trigger points are a prevalent clinical entity , especially in patients with neck pain .
Evidence was not found to support or deny the role of MTrPs in other spinal pain .
Compelling evidence supports local mechanisms underlying MTrPs .
OBJECTIVE A systematic review was performed to evaluate the existing evidence related to the prevalence , incidence , localization , and pathophysiology of myofascial trigger points ( MTrPs ) in patients with spinal ( back and neck ) pain .