What Is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?

Myo is referring to the muscle; fascia is the stuff that covers the muscles. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is therefore when you experience pain as a result of dysfunction in your muscles and fascia. It is basically a fancy name for muscle pain. Myofascial Pain Syndrome occurs when a muscle and/or its fascia has trigger points. Myofascial Pain is also associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome, although the causes are not the same, some of the symptoms are and those that are afflicted with Fibromyalgia can find relief using the same types of therapy.

What Is A Trigger Point?

A trigger point is a specific area in the muscle where the fibres are over active and cannot relax and release from their contracted state. Most of us at some point in time would have referred to this as a knot.

Trigger points can be actively painful, i.e. you feel the pain at the site or because of the trigger point. They can also be completely pain free, unless they are poked and touched. These are called latent trigger points. Both will cause you issues and further pain.

How Do Trigger Points Cause Pain

Not only do some trigger points hurt you right on the spot, they can get you in places totally unrelated. A big symptom of a trigger point is its referred pain. Trigger points have the ability to send their pain to another part of the body.  

Often joint pain we experience is simple referred pain from trigger points. It is common to feel referred pain from a trigger point in your wrists, shoulders, knees and hips. To test it out, extend your wrist. The muscle that pops out on the top of your forearm is a common place for latent trigger points. Press around there, you are most likely going to find some sore points! Some of you will even find pressing on those sore points will refer pain down to your wrist.

Sometimes, you just don’t know they are there. In this case, it’s not too serious, but if you have knee pain and it is because you have some trigger points in your calves, it is very easy for it go unnoticed and untreated. In fact, this is a common cause, or secondary cause of knee pain. The pain caused by latent trigger points is often more worrying than those of active ones. Trigger points make the muscle tighter and shorter, often reducing range of motion. If you don’t know they are there, chances are they will go untreated and can lead to further injury and bad mechanics.

The ShiatsuBalls allows you to be a lot more focused and really get into your trigger points. Active and Latent! Trigger points respond to pressure. You only have to touch one or have one touched to feel the pain it elicits. As you work through the point you find the pain diminishes as the trigger point starts to disappear.

For more information on Trigger Point and Myofascial Pain Syndrome visit the following sites:

SaveYourself.ca is a great website about evidence-based musculoskeletal health care  

American Academy of Family Physicians  covers all areas of health, medicine, and therapy

WebMd covers all areas of health, medicine, and therapy

DaveDraper.com  the former Mr. Universe, Mr. World, and Mr. America, is packed with information on nutrition, working out, injuries, and recovery.