Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome

Ivan Urits; Karina Charipova; Kyle Gress; Amanda L Schaaf; Soham Gupta; Hayley C Kiernan; Paula E Choi; Jai Won Jung; Elyse Cornett; Alan D Kaye; Omar Viswanath

doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.003

Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome

Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2020 Sep;34(3):427-448. doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.003. Epub 2020 Aug 8.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: ivanurits@gmail.com.
² Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
³ University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Department of Anesthesiology, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
⁴ Creighton University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Omaha, NE, USA.
⁵ Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Department of Anesthesiology, Shreveport, LA, USA.
⁶ University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Department of Anesthesiology, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Creighton University School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Omaha, NE, USA; Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Department of Anesthesiology, Shreveport, LA, USA; Valley Pain Consultants - Envision Physician Services, Phoenix, AZ, USA.

PMID: 33004157
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.08.003

Abstract

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a regional pain disorder that affects every age-group and is characterized by the presence of trigger points (TrPs) within muscles or fascia. MPS is typically diagnosed via physical exam, and the general agreement for diagnostic criteria includes the presence of TrPs, pain upon palpation, a referred pain pattern, and a local twitch response. The prevalence of MPS among patients presenting to medical clinics due to pain ranges anywhere from 30 to 93%. This may be due to the lack of clear criteria and guidelines in diagnosing MPS. Despite the prevalence of MPS, its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. There are many different ways to manage and treat MPS. Some include exercise, TrP injections, medications, and other alternative therapies. More research is needed to form uniformly-accepted diagnostic criteria and treatments.

Keywords: alternative therapy; chronic pain; myofasical pain syndrome; regional pain; trigger point.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Analgesics / administration & dosage*
Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage*
Exercise Therapy / methods
Humans
Myofascial Pain Syndromes / diagnosis
Myofascial Pain Syndromes / physiopathology*
Myofascial Pain Syndromes / therapy*
Pain Management / methods*
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / methods
Treatment Outcome
Trigger Points* / physiopathology

Substances

Analgesics
Anesthetics, Local