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Abstract
Objective: To review recent clinical and basic science studies on myofascial trigger points
(MTrPs) to facilitate a better understanding of the mechanism of an MTrP.
Data Sources: English literature in the last 15 years regarding scientific investigations on MTrPs
in either humans or animals.
Study Selection: Research works, especially electrophysiologic studies, related to the pathophysiology
of MTrP.
Data Synthesis: (1) Studies on an animal model have found that a myofascial trigger spot (MTrS) in
a taut band of rabbit skeletal muscle fibers is similar to a human MTrP in many aspects.
(2) An MTrP or an MTrS contains multiple minute loci that are closely related to nerve
fibers and motor endplates. (3) Both referred pain and local twitch response (characteristics
of MTrPs) are related to the spinal cord mechanism. (4) The taut band of skeletal
muscle fibers (which contains an MTrP or an MTrS in the endplate zone) is probably
related to excessive release of acetylcholine in abnormal endplates.
Conclusion: The pathogenesis of an MTrP appears to be related to integrative mechanisms in the
spinal cord in response to sensitized nerve fibers associated with abnormal endplates.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 28,
1998
Received:
February 9,
1998
Footnotes
☆No commercial party having a direct or indirect interest in the subject matter of this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 1998 Published by Elsevier Inc.
