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Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain: correlations and implications.

Ronald Melzack1, Dorothy M Stillwell, Elisabeth J Fox

  • 1Department of Psychology, McGill University, Canada Department of Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada.

Pain
|February 1, 1977
PubMed
Summary
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Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain show a 71% spatial and pain pattern correlation. This suggests they represent the same phenomenon, potentially explained by shared neural mechanisms for pain relief.

Area of Science:

  • Pain Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Integrative Medicine

Background:

  • Myofascial and visceral pain are often linked to trigger points, which can be distant from referred pain areas.
  • Stimulating trigger points can provide significant, prolonged pain relief, similar to acupuncture points.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between trigger points and acupuncture points for pain.
  • To compare spatial distribution and associated pain patterns of trigger points and acupuncture points.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of trigger point locations and acupuncture point locations.
  • Evaluation of pain patterns associated with both trigger points and acupuncture points.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • A high degree of correspondence (71%) was observed between trigger points and acupuncture points.
  • The spatial distribution and pain patterns showed a significant overlap.

    • Conclusions:

    • Trigger points and acupuncture points for pain likely represent the same underlying phenomenon.
    • The findings suggest shared neural mechanisms for both trigger points and acupuncture points in pain modulation.