Background
sore, twitch, Myofascial, MPS, complaint of, MTrPs, pain, tenderness
DISORDER, MINOR, MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME, SIMONS, MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME
Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a disorder that causes pain and discomfort in the muscles and surrounding soft tissue. It is caused by the existence of trigger points, which are sore areas in the muscle that become painful when pressure is applied [One commonly used set of criteria is the "Diagnostic Criteria for Myofascial Trigger Points" developed by Simons et al. They proposed five major and three minor criteria. Here are the diagnostic criteria for MTrPs according to Simons et al. The major criteria include (a) regional and impulsive pain; (b) palpable taut band in accessible muscle; (c) within the taut band, there should be a tender point, exquisite localized tenderness; (d) the palpation of tender point should reproduce or intensify the patients typical complaint of pain; and (e) decreased range of motion, when measurable. The minor criteria include (a) altered sensation or propagation of pain complaint due to tender points; (b) local twitch response by inserting needle into the taut band; and (c) pain is diminished or decreased by muscular therapy (stretching of muscles or injection of the MTrPs).Presence of five major and one out of three minor criteria is necessary for diagnosing myofascial pain syndrome [