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 .
Incidence of Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Study
Background Pain  after breast cancer therapy  is a recognized complication found to have an adverse impact on patient 's quality of life , increasing psychosocial distress . In recent years , case reports about myofascial pain syndrome are emerging in thoracic surgery as a cause of postsurgery pain . Myofascial pain syndrome is a regional pain syndrome characterized by myofascial trigger points in palpable taut b and s of skeletal muscle that refers pain a distance , and that can cause distant motor and autonomic effects . Objective The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of myofascial pain syndrome prospect ively 12 months after breast cancer surgery . Methods Each participant was assessed preoperatively , postoperatively between day 3 and day 5 , and at 1 , 3 , 6 , and 12 months after surgery . A physical therapist , expert in the diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome , performed follow-up assessment s.  Pain descriptions by the patients and pain pattern drawings in body forms guided the physical examination . The patients were not given any information concerning myofascial pain or other muscle pain syndromes . Results One year follow-up was completed by 116 women . Of these , 52 women developed myofascial pain syndrome ( 44.8 % , 95 % confidence interval : 35.6 , 54.3 ) . Conclusion Myofascial pain syndrome is a common source of pain in women undergoing breast cancer surgery that includes axillary lymph node dissection at least during the first year after surgery . Myofascial pain syndrome is one potential cause of chronic pain in breast cancer survivors who have undergone this kind of surgery
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 .