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Referred pain elicited by palpation and by needling of myofascial trigger points: a comparison
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Objective:
To investigate the occurrence of referred pain (ReP) elicited by palpation (Pal-ReP) or by needle injection (Inj-ReP) of myofascial trigger point (MTrP), and to assess the correlated factors, including the pain intensity of an active MTrP and the occurrence of local twitch response (LTR).
Design:
Correlational study.
Patients:
Ninety-five patients who were treated with MTrP injections.
Intervention:
MTrP injections.
Main Outcome Measure:
Pain intensity of MTrP and occurrence of Pal-ReP, Inj-ReP, and LTR.
Results:
Both Pal-ReP and Inj-ReP were elicited in 53.9% of MTrPs, Inj-ReP, but not Pal-ReP, was elicited in 33.7% of MTrPs. Both Pal-ReP and Inj-ReP were unobtainable in 12.3% of MTrPs. The occurrence of ReP was significantly correlated to the pain intensity of active MTrP and the occurrence of LTR.
Conclusion:
ReP could be elicited more frequently by needling than by palpation. The frequency of occurrence in ReP mainly depends on pain intensity of an active MTrP.