U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Myofascial pain syndrome

MedGen UID:
6496
•Concept ID:
C0027073
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Myofascial Pain Syndrome; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Pain Syndrome, Myofascial; Pain Syndromes, Myofascial; Syndrome, Myofascial Pain; Syndromes, Myofascial Pain
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0006862

Definition

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. [from MONDO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVMyofascial pain syndrome

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome.
Urits I, Charipova K, Gress K, Schaaf AL, Gupta S, Kiernan HC, Choi PE, Jung JW, Cornett E, Kaye AD, Viswanath O
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2020 Sep;34(3):427-448. Epub 2020 Aug 8 doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.003. PMID: 33004157
A Comprehensive Review of the Treatment and Management of Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
Galasso A, Urits I, An D, Nguyen D, Borchart M, Yazdi C, Manchikanti L, Kaye RJ, Kaye AD, Mancuso KF, Viswanath O
Curr Pain Headache Rep 2020 Jun 27;24(8):43. doi: 10.1007/s11916-020-00877-5. PMID: 32594264
Myofascial pain syndrome and trigger points: evaluation and treatment in patients with musculoskeletal pain.
Barbero M, Schneebeli A, Koetsier E, Maino P
Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2019 Sep;13(3):270-276. doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000445. PMID: 31313700

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Effect of ischemic compression on myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lu W, Li J, Tian Y, Lu X
Chiropr Man Therap 2022 Sep 1;30(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s12998-022-00441-5. PMID: 36050701Free PMC Article
Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 381 studies (the meta-TENS study).
Johnson MI, Paley CA, Jones G, Mulvey MR, Wittkopf PG
BMJ Open 2022 Feb 10;12(2):e051073. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051073. PMID: 35144946Free PMC Article
Comparison of dry needling and trigger point manual therapy in patients with neck and upper back myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lew J, Kim J, Nair P
J Man Manip Ther 2021 Jun;29(3):136-146. Epub 2020 Sep 22 doi: 10.1080/10669817.2020.1822618. PMID: 32962567Free PMC Article
Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome.
Urits I, Charipova K, Gress K, Schaaf AL, Gupta S, Kiernan HC, Choi PE, Jung JW, Cornett E, Kaye AD, Viswanath O
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2020 Sep;34(3):427-448. Epub 2020 Aug 8 doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.003. PMID: 33004157
Myofascial pain syndrome treatments.
Borg-Stein J, Iaccarino MA
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2014 May;25(2):357-74. Epub 2014 Mar 17 doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.012. PMID: 24787338

Diagnosis

Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 381 studies (the meta-TENS study).
Johnson MI, Paley CA, Jones G, Mulvey MR, Wittkopf PG
BMJ Open 2022 Feb 10;12(2):e051073. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051073. PMID: 35144946Free PMC Article
Temporomandibular Myofascial Pain Syndrome-Aetiology and Biopsychosocial Modulation. A Narrative Review.
Golanska P, Saczuk K, Domarecka M, Kuć J, Lukomska-Szymanska M
Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Jul 23;18(15) doi: 10.3390/ijerph18157807. PMID: 34360099Free PMC Article
Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome.
Urits I, Charipova K, Gress K, Schaaf AL, Gupta S, Kiernan HC, Choi PE, Jung JW, Cornett E, Kaye AD, Viswanath O
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2020 Sep;34(3):427-448. Epub 2020 Aug 8 doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.003. PMID: 33004157
Myofascial pain syndrome: an overview.
Saxena A, Chansoria M, Tomar G, Kumar A
J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother 2015 Mar;29(1):16-21. Epub 2015 Jan 5 doi: 10.3109/15360288.2014.997853. PMID: 25558924
Myofascial pain syndrome treatments.
Borg-Stein J, Iaccarino MA
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2014 May;25(2):357-74. Epub 2014 Mar 17 doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.012. PMID: 24787338

Therapy

Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 381 studies (the meta-TENS study).
Johnson MI, Paley CA, Jones G, Mulvey MR, Wittkopf PG
BMJ Open 2022 Feb 10;12(2):e051073. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051073. PMID: 35144946Free PMC Article
Comparison of dry needling and trigger point manual therapy in patients with neck and upper back myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lew J, Kim J, Nair P
J Man Manip Ther 2021 Jun;29(3):136-146. Epub 2020 Sep 22 doi: 10.1080/10669817.2020.1822618. PMID: 32962567Free PMC Article
Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome.
Urits I, Charipova K, Gress K, Schaaf AL, Gupta S, Kiernan HC, Choi PE, Jung JW, Cornett E, Kaye AD, Viswanath O
Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2020 Sep;34(3):427-448. Epub 2020 Aug 8 doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.003. PMID: 33004157
A Comprehensive Review of the Treatment and Management of Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
Galasso A, Urits I, An D, Nguyen D, Borchart M, Yazdi C, Manchikanti L, Kaye RJ, Kaye AD, Mancuso KF, Viswanath O
Curr Pain Headache Rep 2020 Jun 27;24(8):43. doi: 10.1007/s11916-020-00877-5. PMID: 32594264
Myofascial pain syndrome treatments.
Borg-Stein J, Iaccarino MA
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2014 May;25(2):357-74. Epub 2014 Mar 17 doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.012. PMID: 24787338

Prognosis

Chronic Pain Syndromes: Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
Henson J
FP Essent 2023 Oct;533:16-20. PMID: 37812529
Role of Rehabilitation Exercise on Myofascial Pain Syndrome Causing Upper Back Pain.
Rahman N, Rahman MA, Rahman MM, Ahmed B, Akter MR, Karim MR, Ahamed F
Mymensingh Med J 2023 Oct;32(4):1096-1102. PMID: 37777907
Manual acupuncture for myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wang R, Li X, Zhou S, Zhang X, Yang K, Li X
Acupunct Med 2017 Aug;35(4):241-250. Epub 2017 Jan 23 doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011176. PMID: 28115321
Myofascial pain syndrome treatments.
Borg-Stein J, Iaccarino MA
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2014 May;25(2):357-74. Epub 2014 Mar 17 doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.012. PMID: 24787338
Diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome.
Gerwin RD
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2014 May;25(2):341-55. Epub 2014 Mar 18 doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.011. PMID: 24787337

Clinical prediction guides

Interactions between the painful disorders and the autonomic nervous system.
Arslan D, Ünal Çevik I
Agri 2022 Jul;34(3):155-165. doi: 10.14744/agri.2021.43078. PMID: 35792695
Comparison of dry needling and trigger point manual therapy in patients with neck and upper back myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lew J, Kim J, Nair P
J Man Manip Ther 2021 Jun;29(3):136-146. Epub 2020 Sep 22 doi: 10.1080/10669817.2020.1822618. PMID: 32962567Free PMC Article
Co-occurrence of pain syndromes.
Affaitati G, Costantini R, Tana C, Cipollone F, Giamberardino MA
J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2020 Apr;127(4):625-646. Epub 2019 Nov 29 doi: 10.1007/s00702-019-02107-8. PMID: 31784821
Efficacy of quadriceps vastus medialis dry needling in a rehabilitation protocol after surgical reconstruction of complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
Velázquez-Saornil J, Ruíz-Ruíz B, Rodríguez-Sanz D, Romero-Morales C, López-López D, Calvo-Lobo C
Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Apr;96(17):e6726. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006726. PMID: 28445290Free PMC Article
Responsiveness of Myofascial Trigger Points to Single and Multiple Trigger Point Release Massages: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial.
Moraska AF, Schmiege SJ, Mann JD, Butryn N, Krutsch JP
Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2017 Sep;96(9):639-645. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000728. PMID: 28248690Free PMC Article

Recent systematic reviews

Effect of ischemic compression on myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lu W, Li J, Tian Y, Lu X
Chiropr Man Therap 2022 Sep 1;30(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s12998-022-00441-5. PMID: 36050701Free PMC Article
Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 381 studies (the meta-TENS study).
Johnson MI, Paley CA, Jones G, Mulvey MR, Wittkopf PG
BMJ Open 2022 Feb 10;12(2):e051073. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051073. PMID: 35144946Free PMC Article
Comparison of dry needling and trigger point manual therapy in patients with neck and upper back myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lew J, Kim J, Nair P
J Man Manip Ther 2021 Jun;29(3):136-146. Epub 2020 Sep 22 doi: 10.1080/10669817.2020.1822618. PMID: 32962567Free PMC Article
A systematic review of manual therapy techniques, dry cupping and dry needling in the reduction of myofascial pain and myofascial trigger points.
Charles D, Hudgins T, MacNaughton J, Newman E, Tan J, Wigger M
J Bodyw Mov Ther 2019 Jul;23(3):539-546. Epub 2019 Apr 4 doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.04.001. PMID: 31563367
Myofascial pain syndrome and trigger points: evaluation and treatment in patients with musculoskeletal pain.
Barbero M, Schneebeli A, Koetsier E, Maino P
Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2019 Sep;13(3):270-276. doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000445. PMID: 31313700

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...