Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for Myofascial Pain Medication

1. Dorsher PT. Myofascial referred-pain data provide physiologic evidence of acupuncture meridians. J Pain. 2009 Jul. 10(7):723-31. [Medline].

2. McPartland JM. Travell trigger points--molecular and osteopathic perspectives. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2004 Jun. 104(6):244-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].

3. Hong CZ, Simons DG. Pathophysiologic and electrophysiologic mechanisms of myofascial trigger points. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Jul. 79(7):863-72. [Medline].

4. Alonso-Blanco C, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Morales-Cabezas M, Zarco-Moreno P, Ge HY, Florez-García M. Multiple active myofascial trigger points reproduce the overall spontaneous pain pattern in women with fibromyalgia and are related to widespread mechanical hypersensitivity. Clin J Pain. 2011 Jun. 27(5):405-13. [Medline].

5. Shah JP, Danoff JV, Desai MJ, et al. Biochemicals associated with pain and inflammation are elevated in sites near to and remote from active myofascial trigger points. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Jan. 89(1):16-23. [Medline].

6. Gerwin RD. A review of myofascial pain and fibromyalgia--factors that promote their persistence. Acupunct Med. 2005 Sep. 23(3):121-34. [Medline].

7. Graff-Radford SB. Myofascial pain: diagnosis and management. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2004 Dec. 8(6):463-7. [Medline].

8. Simons DG, Travell JG, Simons LS. Travell and Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. 2nd ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1999.

9. Gerwin RD, Dommerholt J, Shah JP. An expansion of Simons' integrated hypothesis of trigger point formation. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2004 Dec. 8(6):468-75. [Medline].

10. Myburgh C, Larsen AH, Hartvigsen J. A systematic, critical review of manual palpation for identifying myofascial trigger points: evidence and clinical significance. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Jun. 89(6):1169-76. [Medline].

11. Hameroff SR, Crago BR, Blitt CD, et al. Comparison of bupivacaine, etidocaine, and saline for trigger-point therapy. Anesth Analg. 1981 Oct. 60(10):752-5. [Medline].

12. Hong CZ. Lidocaine injection versus dry needling to myofascial trigger point. The importance of the local twitch response. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1994 Jul-Aug. 73(4):256-63. [Medline].

13. Venâncio Rde A, Alencar FG, Zamperini C. Different substances and dry-needling injections in patients with myofascial pain and headaches. Cranio. 2008 Apr. 26(2):96-103. [Medline].

14. Wreje U, Brorsson B. A multicenter randomized controlled trial of injections of sterile water and saline for chronic myofascial pain syndromes. Pain. 1995 Jun. 61(3):441-4. [Medline].

15. Diraçoglu D, Vural M, Karan A, Aksoy C. Effectiveness of dry needling for the treatment of temporomandibular myofascial pain: a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2012 Jan 1. 25(4):285-90. [Medline].

16. Tekin L, Akarsu S, Durmus O, Cakar E, Dinçer U, Kiralp MZ. The effect of dry needling in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Clin Rheumatol. 2013 Mar. 32(3):309-15. [Medline].

17. Rha DW, Shin JC, Kim YK, Jung JH, Kim YU, Lee SC. Detecting local twitch responses of myofascial trigger points in the lower-back muscles using ultrasonography. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Oct. 92(10):1576-1580.e1. [Medline].

18. Aoki KR. Evidence for antinociceptive activity of botulinum toxin type A in pain management. Headache. 2003 Jul-Aug. 43 Suppl 1:S9-15. [Medline].

19. Lang AM. Botulinum toxin therapy for myofascial pain disorders. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2002 Oct. 6(5):355-60. [Medline].

20. Jeynes LC, Gauci CA. Evidence for the use of botulinum toxin in the chronic pain setting--a review of the literature. Pain Pract. 2008 Jul-Aug. 8(4):269-76. [Medline].

21. Cheshire WP, Abashian SW, Mann JD. Botulinum toxin in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome. Pain. 1994 Oct. 59(1):65-9. [Medline].

22. Avendano-Coy J, Gomez-Soriano J, Valencia M, et al. Botulinum toxin type A and myofascial pain syndrome: a retrospective study of 301 patients. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2014. 27(4):485-92. [Medline].

23. Affaitati G, Fabrizio A, Savini A, et al. A randomized, controlled study comparing a lidocaine patch, a placebo patch, and anesthetic injection for treatment of trigger points in patients with myofascial pain syndrome: evaluation of pain and somatic pain thresholds. Clin Ther. 2009 Apr. 31(4):705-20. [Medline].

24. Fleckenstein J, Zaps D, Ruger LJ, et al. Discrepancy between prevalence and perceived effectiveness of treatment methods in myofascial pain syndrome: results of a cross-sectional, nationwide survey. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Feb 11. 11:32. [Medline]. [Full Text].

25. Ay S, Dogan SK, Evcik D, Baser OC. Comparison the efficacy of phonophoresis and ultrasound therapy in myofascial pain syndrome. Rheumatol Int. 2011 Sep. 31(9):1203-8. [Medline].

26. Gam AN, Warming S, Larsen LH, et al. Treatment of myofascial trigger-points with ultrasound combined with massage and exercise--a randomised controlled trial. Pain. 1998 Jul. 77(1):73-9. [Medline].

27. Lee SH, Chen CC, Lee CS, et al. Effects of needle electrical intramuscular stimulation on shoulder and cervical myofascial pain syndrome and microcirculation. J Chin Med Assoc. 2008 Apr. 71(4):200-6. [Medline].

28. Srbely JZ, Dickey JP, Lowerison M, et al. Stimulation of myofascial trigger points with ultrasound induces segmental antinociceptive effects: a randomized controlled study. Pain. 2008 May 26. [Medline].

29. Ay S, Dogan SK, Evcik D, et al. Comparison the efficacy of phonophoresis and ultrasound therapy in myofascial pain syndrome. Rheumatol Int. 2010 Mar 31. [Medline].

30. Flor H, Birbaumer N. Comparison of the efficacy of electromyographic biofeedback, cognitive- behavioral therapy, and conservative medical interventions in the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1993 Aug. 61(4):653-8. [Medline].

31. Rayegani S, Bahrami M, Samadi B, Sedighipour L, Mokhtarirad M, Eliaspoor D. Comparison of the effects of low energy laser and ultrasound in treatment of shoulder myofascial pain syndrome: a randomized single-blinded clinical trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2011 Sep. 47(3):381-9. [Medline].

32. Chan YC, Wang TJ, Chang CC, et al. Short-term effects of self-massage combined with home exercise on pain, daily activity, and autonomic function in patients with myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Jan. 27(1):217-21. [Medline]. [Full Text].

33. Halder GE, Scott L, Wyman A, et al. Botox combined with myofascial release physical therapy as a treatment for myofascial pelvic pain. Investig Clin Urol. 2017 Mar. 58 (2):134-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].

34. Birch S, Jamison RN. Controlled trial of Japanese acupuncture for chronic myofascial neck pain: assessment of specific and nonspecific effects of treatment. Clin J Pain. 1998 Sep. 14(3):248-55. [Medline].

35. Ma C, Wu S, Li G, et al. Comparison of miniscalpel-needle release, acupuncture needling, and stretching exercise to trigger point in myofascial pain syndrome. Clin J Pain. 2010 Mar-Apr. 26(3):251-7. [Medline].

36. Chou LW, Hsieh YL, Chen HS, Hong CZ, Kao MJ, Han TI. Remote therapeutic effectiveness of acupuncture in treating myofascial trigger point of the upper trapezius muscle. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Dec. 90(12):1036-49. [Medline].

37. Leite FM, Atallah AN, El Dib R, et al. Cyclobenzaprine for the treatment of myofascial pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jul 8. CD006830. [Medline].

38. Lin YC, Kuan TS, Hsieh PC, Yen WJ, Chang WC, Chen SM. Therapeutic effects of lidocaine patch on myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Oct. 91(10):871-82. [Medline].

39. Bendtsen L, Jensen R, Olesen J. Qualitatively altered nociception in chronic myofascial pain. Pain. 1996 May-Jun. 65(2-3):259-64. [Medline].

40. Danto JB. Review of integrated neuromusculoskeletal release and the novel application of a segmental anterior/posterior approach in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2003 Dec. 103(12):583-96. [Medline]. [Full Text].

41. Facco E, Ceccherelli F. Myofascial pain mimicking radicular syndromes. Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2005. 92:147-50. [Medline].

42. Hsueh TC, Cheng PT, Kuan TS, et al. The immediate effectiveness of electrical nerve stimulation and electrical muscle stimulation on myofascial trigger points. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1997 Nov-Dec. 76(6):471-6. [Medline].

43. Saggini R, Giamberardino MA, Gatteschi L, et al. Myofascial pain syndrome of the peroneus longus: biomechanical approach. Clin J Pain. 1996 Mar. 12(1):30-7. [Medline].

44. Simons DG. Review of enigmatic MTrPs as a common cause of enigmatic musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2004 Feb. 14(1):95-107. [Medline].

Jennifer E Finley, MD, FAAPMR Consulting Physiatrist and Sports Medicine Physician

Jennifer E Finley, MD, FAAPMR is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, American College of Sports Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Patrick M Foye, MD Director of Coccyx Pain Center, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Co-Director of Musculoskeletal Fellowship, Co-Director of Back Pain Clinic, University Hospital

Patrick M Foye, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, International Spine Intervention Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dean H Hommer, MD Chief, Department of Pain Management, Brooke Army Medical Center

Dean H Hommer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American College of Healthcare Executives, American College of Sports Medicine, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Martin K Childers, DO, PhD Professor, Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Professor, Rehabilitation Program, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Martin K Childers, DO, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, American Osteopathic Association, Christian Medical & Dental Society, and Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Disclosure: Allergan pharma Consulting fee Consulting

• Print this section
• Print the entire contents of