II. Definitions
- Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS)
- Localized musculoskeletal pain, typically to a few regional Trigger Points
- Contrast with Fibromyalgia which is diagnosed with multiple generalized Tender Points and constitutional symptoms
III. Epidemiology
- Peak onset: ages 30 to 60 years
- Very common cause of Chronic Pain
- Very common syndrome in general population
- In one outpatient studty, Myofascial Pain was responsible for 30% of musculoskeletal pain presentations
- Skootsky (1989) West J Med 151(2): 157-60 [PubMed]
IV. Symptoms
- Localized pain, limited to a few tight regions of spasm and Trigger Points
- Constitutional symptoms (Fatigue, Insomnia, Headache, gastrointestinal upset) are typically absent
V. Signs
- See Chronic Pain Evaluation
-
Trigger Points
- See Trigger Point Location
- Trigger Points are central to Myofascial Pain Syndrome
- Back Muscles are most commonly involved (esp. trapezius Muscle)
VI. Differential Diagnosis
VII. Associated Conditions
VIII. Management (See Chronic Pain)
- Fibromyalgia Non-Pharmacologic Management
- Fibromyalgia Pharmacologic Management
- See Stretch and Spray
- See Trigger Point Injection
- Deep Massage Therapy (20-30 pounds of force)
- Reduces overall Trigger Point related pain, but variable effect on Tension Headache
- Moraska (2015) Clin J Pain 31(2): 159-68 [PubMed]
- Moraska (2017) Am J Phys Med Rehabil 96(9): 639-45 [PubMed]
-
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment
- Muscle Energy Technique
- Counter Strain Technique
- Joints and Muscles are manipulated away from a restrictive barrier toward a less restrictive position
- Once Trigger Point pain decreases, position is held for 90 seconds, and then return to a neutral position
- Physical Therapy
- Overall reduction in Trigger Point related pain
- Guzman-Pavon (2022) Pain Med 23(1): 137-43 [PubMed]
- Regular Exercise Program
- Aerobic Exercise
- Active and Passive Stretching
- Posture enhancing Exercises
- Medications
IX. References
- Fomby (1997) Physician and Sports Med 25(2):67-75
- Shipton (2023) Am Fam Physician 107(2): 159-64 [PubMed]
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Definition (MSH) | Muscular pain in numerous body regions that can be reproduced by pressure on TRIGGER POINTS, localized hardenings in skeletal muscle tissue. Pain is referred to a location distant from the trigger points. A prime example is the TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME. |
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D009209 |
| English | Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Pain Syndrome, Myofascial, Pain Syndromes, Myofascial, Syndrome, Myofascial Pain, Syndromes, Myofascial Pain, Myofascial pain syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome (diagnosis), Myofascial Pain Syndromes [Disease/Finding], myofascial pain syndromes, pain syndrome myofascial, Myofascial pain syndromes, Myofascial Pain Syndromes |
| Italian | Sindrome algodistrofica miofasciale, Sindromi dolorose miofasciali |
| Japanese | 筋膜疼痛症候群, ｷﾝﾏｸﾄｳﾂｳｼｮｳｺｳｸﾞﾝ |
| Swedish | Myofasciella smärtsyndrom |
| Czech | syndromy myofasciální bolesti, Syndrom myofasciální bolesti, syndrom myofasciální bolesti, myofasciální bolestivý syndrom |
| Finnish | Myofaskiaaliset kipuoireyhtymät |
| Russian | KURKOVYE ZONY MIOFASTSIAL'NYE, TRIGGERNYE ZONY MIOFASTSIAL'NYE, MIOFASTSIAL'NYE BOLEVYE SINDROMY, КУРКОВЫЕ ЗОНЫ МИОФАСЦИАЛЬНЫЕ, МИОФАСЦИАЛЬНЫЕ БОЛЕВЫЕ СИНДРОМЫ, ТРИГГЕРНЫЕ ЗОНЫ МИОФАСЦИАЛЬНЫЕ |
| Croatian | Not Translated[Myofascial Pain Syndromes] |
| Polish | Zespoły bólowe mięśni i powięzi, Zespół bólu mięśniowo-powięziowego, Zespoły bólowe mięśniowo-powięziowe |
| Hungarian | Myofascialis fájdalom syndroma |
| Spanish | Síndromes del Dolor Miofascial, Síndrome de dolor miofascial |
| Norwegian | Myofascielle smertesyndromer |
| Portuguese | Síndrome de dor miofacial, Síndromes da Dor Miofascial |
| Dutch | myofasciaal pijnsyndroom, Myofasciaal pijnsyndroom, Myofasciale pijnsyndromen, Pijnsyndromen, myofasciale, Pijnsyndroom, myofasciaal, Syndromen, pijn-, myofasciale, Syndroom, pijn-, myofasciaal |
| French | Syndrome douloureux myofascial, Syndromes de la douleur myofasciale, Syndromes de la douleur chronique myofasciale |
| German | Myofasziales Schmerz - Syndrom, Myofasziale Schmerzsyndrome |
Ontology: Myofascial spasm (C0948650)
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| Italian | Spasmo miofasciale |
| Japanese | 筋膜攣縮, ｷﾝﾏｸﾚﾝｼｭｸ |
| Czech | Myofasciální spasmus |
| English | myofascial spasm, Myofascial spasm |
| Hungarian | Myofascialis görcs |
| Portuguese | Espasmo miofacial |
| Spanish | Espasmo miofascial |
| Dutch | myofasciaal spasme |
| French | Spasme myofascial |
| German | Myofaszikulaerspasmen |
