A critical overview of the current myofascial pain literature - February 2019

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2019 Apr;23(2):295-305. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.02.017. Epub 2019 Feb 23.

Abstract

This edition of the overview of current myofascial pain literature features several interesting and important publications. From Australia, Braithwaite and colleagues completed an outstanding systematic review of blinding procedures used in dry needling (DN) studies. Other papers tackled the interrater reliability of the identification of trigger points (TrP), the presence of muscle hardness related to latent TrPs, pelvic floor examination techniques, and the links between TrPs, headaches and shoulder pain. Israeli researchers developed a theoretical model challenging the contributions of the Cinderella Hypothesis to the development of TrPs. As in almost all issues, we included many DN, injection and acupuncture studies, which continue to be the focus of researchers all over the world.

Keywords: Dry needling; Manual therapy; Myofascial pain syndrome; Trigger points.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Headache / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Musculoskeletal Manipulations / methods*
  • Myofascial Pain Syndromes / physiopathology*
  • Myofascial Pain Syndromes / therapy*
  • Needles
  • Observer Variation
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pelvic Floor / physiopathology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Trigger Points / physiopathology*