Exam
Trigger Point Locations
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Trigger Point Locations
, Trigger Area, Trigger Point Site, Trigger Zone
See Also
Trigger Point
Trigger Points
Head and Neck
Paraspinous Neck Muscles
Refer pain to occiput
Symptoms include retro-orbital
Headache
Muscle Components
Splenius cervicis muscle
Semispinalis cervicis muscle
Rotatores cervicis muscles
Multifidus muscle
Upper Trapezius
Refer pain to neck and temporal forehead
Sternocleidomastoid
Associated with
Otalgia
and possibly
Vertigo
Associated with increased
Lacrimation
and
Coryza
Clavicle Musculature
Referred pain across forehead and behind ear
Sternal Musculature
Referred pain into occiput, cheek and periorbital
Mimics
Sinusitis
Splenius Capitis (cervical paraspinous muscle)
Referred Retro-orbital or temporal-orbital pain
Symptoms include vertex
Headache
Peri-auricular muscles
Referred pain to teeth and jaw
Muscle Components
Temporalis Muscle
Masseter Muscle
Medial Pterygoid Muscle
Lateral Pterygoid Muscle
Trigger Points
Shoulder
, Thorax, and Arm
Anterior Serratus Muscle (lateral to
Breast
)
Referred pain to lateral chest and
Scapula
border
Related to decreased chest expansion
May result in perceived
Dyspnea
Pectoralis Major Muscle and Pectoralis Minor Muscle
Referred pain to
Breast
and ulnar arm
Levator
Scapula
e Muscle (lateral Neck)
Referred pain to base of neck
Associated with neck stiffness
Follows cervical
Whiplash
injury
Associated with
Mood Disorder
s
Infraspinatus Muscle (lower
Scapula
)
Referred pain to
Shoulder
joint and down upper arm
Mimics
Cervical Radiculopathy
Supraspinatus Muscle (upper
Scapula
)
Referred pain to middle deltoid and elbow
Mimics
Cervical Radiculopathy
Trigger Points
Back and Buttock
Quadratus Lumborum Muscle (above iliac crest)
Referred pain to low back
Iliocostalis Muscle (lateral paraspinous muscle)
Referred pain to lower quadrant of
Abdomen
Referred pain to buttock
Gluteus Maximus Muscle
Referred pain to
Sacrum
and inferior buttock
Trigger Points
Thigh
, Leg and
Foot
Quadriceps Femoris (anterior thigh quad muscles)
Rectus femoris referred to
Patella
and distal thigh
Vastus intermedius referred to upper thigh
Vastus medialis referred to medial knee
Biceps Femoris (Hamstring Muscles)
Referred pain to calf
Gastrocnemius (superficial posterior calf)
Referred pain to calf and foot instep
Soleus (deep posterior calf)
Referred pain to heel and to sacroiliac joint
References
Alvarez (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(4): 653-60 [PubMed]
Fomby (1997) Phys Sportsmed 25(2):67-75 [PubMed]
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